Praneet Thakar
Santiago Ponzinibbio is gearing up for his first bout of 2024, marking his return to the UFC octagon with a clash against Muslim Salikhov in a welterweight showdown set for July 13. Although the exact venue is yet to be finalized, all signs point to the event taking place in Denver, as revealed by the UFC’s announcement on a Friday evening.
Both fighters are eager to reclaim their winning form after recent setbacks. Ponzinibbio, with a record of 29 wins and 7 losses in MMA, suffered a knockout defeat at the hands of Kevin Holland in April 2023.
Despite a mixed run of results, including a TKO victory over Alex Morono and narrow split decision losses to Geoff Neal and Michel Pereira, the Argentine remains a formidable force in the welterweight division.
Meanwhile, Salikhov, boasting a record of 19 wins and 5 losses in MMA, seeks redemption following consecutive defeats. His last outing saw him fall short against Randy Brown in February, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Nicolas Dalby in June 2023. As he prepares to step back into the spotlight, Salikhov aims to reignite his momentum and make a statement in the highly competitive welterweight landscape.
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