Muslim Salikhov has pulled out of his scheduled bout against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau. The Russian welterweight withdrew from the fight due to an upcoming elbow surgery that requires immediate attention. The cancellation was reported by Kevin K, a known insider source. No replacement opponent has been announced at this time. This marks another setback for the UFC Macau card, which was set to feature Salikhov's return to action.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his welterweight matchup against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau, withdrawing from the bout due to an elbow injury requiring surgery. The pullout was reported by insider source Kevin K, and no replacement opponent for Matthews has been announced.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," is a 42-year-old Russian fighter carrying a professional record of 22-6-0. He trains out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School and competes as an orthodox striker at 180 cm tall with a 178 cm reach. He lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more precise volume strikers in the welterweight division. The UFC Macau card was set to mark his return to action, making the late withdrawal a notable blow to the event.
His would-be opponent, Jake Matthews, is a 31-year-old Australian fighting out of Nexus with a record of 22-8-0. The orthodox welterweight stands 180 cm tall and holds a 185 cm reach advantage over most opponents. Nicknamed "The Celtic Kid," Matthews produces 3.34 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a grappling dimension to his game alongside 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's elbow surgery puts his return timeline in serious doubt at age 42, raising questions about his availability for the remainder of 2026.
- Matthews is left without an opponent, and his place on the UFC Macau card is now uncertain until a replacement is confirmed.
- The matchup was a closely matched striking contest on paper, with both fighters landing at nearly identical rates and both working out of orthodox stances.
- UFC Macau has now absorbed another scheduling disruption as the card takes shape.
