Prediction, pick for Muslim Salikhov vs. Uros Medic

Cooper Albers details his best bet for Matt Schnell vs. Joseph Morales at UFC Vegas 111.

Welterweight knockout artists collide at the Apex as Muslim Salikhov takes on Uros Medic at UFC Vegas 111 on Saturday night.

Both fighters enter the Octagon riding momentum from first-round knockouts in roughly a minute, teeing up a high-stakes striking battle where one shot could end someone’s night. 

Medic enters as a -148 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Salikhov listed as a +124 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds. Here’s my best bet for Saturday night’s welterweight showdown.

Salikhov (22-5) enters the Octagon on Saturday night riding a three-fight win streak, punctuated by a pair of highlight-reel, first-round knockouts. The “King of Kung Fu” flatlined Song Kenan with a vicious spinning wheel kick last November, then needed just 42 seconds to fold Carlos Leal with a short right hook in July.

The Russian contender has racked up 15 knockout wins in his career, along with two submissions. But at 41 years old, how much longer can Salikhov maintain this torrid pace?

Medic (11-3) has had a pretty up-and-down run since earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 — but when he lands, his opponents hit the canvas. Aptly nicknamed the “Doctor,” Medic boasts a 100 percent finish rate with nine knockouts and two submissions, having never seen the judges’ scorecards. The Serbian comes into Saturday night’s contest fresh off a first-round knockout of Gilbert Urbina in April, where he landed a surgical left-hand that put his opponent under in just over a minute. 

While Medic has been inconsistent inside the Octagon, he could be poised for a statement victory over Salikhov. The Doctor operates at a rapid pace, averaging 5.5 significant strikes per minute and 2.89 knockdowns per 15 minutes. This bodes well against an aging opponent who’s nine years his senior — especially in a fight where one punch is all it takes. 

Count on Medic to keep his 100 percent finish rate intact with a commanding finish on Saturday night.