Brazilian welterweight Carlos Leal, set to fight Muslim Salikhov at UFC Abu Dhabi, is determined to prove his worth after a controversial debut loss and aims to demonstrate his striking prowess to secure a future against ranked fighters.
Brazilian welterweight Carlos Leal is officially 1-1 in the UFC, but ask him, and he might say otherwise. He’s gearing up to face Muslim Salikhov at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, still haunted by his controversial debut loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov.
Back in October 2024, Leal lost a decision that left him feeling wronged, with judges Hadi Mohamed Ali, Michael Bell, and David Lethaby all siding with Fakhretdinov. “I put this pressure, this weight over myself,” Leal shared with MMA Fighting, determined to rewrite his story in the same venue.
He’s not backing down. “I want to be a good employee,” Leal insists, ready to fight anyone, anywhere. The pressure’s on to deliver a knockout or submission, especially since Salikhov’s practically on home turf.
Leal’s experienced this before, leaving the cage feeling cheated, but this time, it was under the UFC spotlight. “After I saw the repercussion, it only made me know more that I had won the fight,” he said, standing by his performance against Rinat.
Bouncing back, Leal demolished Alex Morono with a first-round knockout in March. His mindset? Unchanged. “I’m in the world’s biggest promotion, and I need to show I’m one of the best in the world,” he declared.
Salikhov may be a precise striker, but Leal’s confident in his muay thai. “I have to be more smart when I close the distance,” he noted, planning to gauge Salikhov’s speed and power early on.
If Leal senses an advantage, he’ll push the pace, just like against Morono. But if Salikhov proves dangerous, Leal’s ready to adapt, aiming to expose his opponent’s weaknesses. The goal? Showcasing superior striking and securing a knockout.
“I’m sure the UFC will see me with other eyes [after this win],” he continued. It’s not just about winning but how he wins, as Leal aims to cement his legacy as one of the greatest in the division.