Carlos Leal is lined up to dominate this matchup, and the KO feels like a matter of when, not if. Muslim Salikhov is now 41 years old, his cardio has visibly declined, and his durability has started to fade. His style relies on space and timing for spinning kicks and flashy attacks—but Leal is exactly the wrong opponent for that at this point in Salikhov’s career.

Leal brings relentless forward pressure, high volume, and serious power, especially to the body. He doesn’t give opponents the room to breathe, and that spells trouble for a declining fighter like Salikhov. The body work in particular could be brutal here, and Leal’s pace will break him down quickly.