![Stephen Thompson (left) called out by Muslim Salikhov after securing spinning kick KO win at UFC Macau (right) [Images courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/45366-17324522550271-1920.jpg)
![Stephen Thompson (left) called out by Muslim Salikhov after securing spinning kick KO win at UFC Macau (right) [Images courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMZADsf/xAAhEAABAwMEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEAAYSBQcREyEygv/aAAgBAQABPwCwoUW6rbhwJEGId8uULTBvKzDqVB9iLk3z7PoO32kyRMOkgo0KmeCC5x5+6//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAxMi/9oACAECAQE/AJnW8H//xAAZEQADAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMAQbL/2gAIAQMBAT8AhFKSQsNHo5//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Stephen Thompson is regarded as one of the best strikers to grace the UFC's octagon. He holds a combined professional and amateur kickboxing record of 57-0 (1 No Contest), and 8 of his 17 MMA wins have come via knockout.
Following UFC Macau, which took place on Nov. 23 in China, Thompson was called out by Muslim Salikhov, who secured an incredible spinning heel-kick knockout win against Song Kenan in Round 1 of their main card clash.
The kick landed about as perfectly as Salikhov could have hoped for, who was awarded a performance bonus of $50,000 for his highlight-reel finish.
Despite hailing from Russia, where one may expect him to hold an elite grappling background, Salikhov is an expert striker in his own right, having trained in Sanda, a Chinese fighting system developed by the military.
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During his interview following his win, Helen Yee asked the welterweight contender who he would like to face next
"I want a fight with [Stephen] 'Wonderboy' Thompson. This is a good fight for me, and for him. Let's see who's Kung-Fu is better. He's a Karate guy, and I'm Kung-Fu. It's gonna be exciting for the fans."
Catch Muslim Salikhov's callout of Stephen Thompson below (2:20):
Stephen Thompson apologizes to fans following KO loss to Joaquin Buckley
Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley went to war at UFC 307, with the 41-year-old hoping to return to winning ways after a defeat in his previous fight to Shavkat Rakhmonov.
While Buckley was hoping to make a statement against a perennial contender at 170 pounds and extend his winning streak to five.
The pair clashed in the main event of the preliminary card. The Missouri native secured a sensational knockout win in Round 3, only the second KO defeat of Thompson's MMA career.
Following the event, he took to Instagram to share a message with fans, saying:
"Not much to say other than I sincerely appreciate all of the love and support I felt from the fans tonight and always. The love you’ve shown me really fills my heart. The roar of the crowd as I walked out to the cage and my name was announced is something I’ll cherish forever. I’m sorry I didn’t get it done tonight. Much love to you all."
Check out Stephen Thompson's post below:
