Muslim Salikhov has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau due to an upcoming elbow surgery. The fight cancellation was reported by insider KevinK. Details about the severity of Salikhov's elbow injury or the expected recovery timeline have not been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the UFC will seek a replacement opponent for Matthews or reschedule the bout for a later date. This marks another setback for the welterweight matchup that fans were anticipating.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his scheduled welterweight bout against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau, with an upcoming elbow surgery ending his participation in the fight. The withdrawal was reported by insider KevinK. No details have been disclosed regarding the severity of the injury or how long Salikhov is expected to be sidelined. It is also unclear whether the UFC plans to find a replacement opponent for Matthews or reschedule the matchup at a future date.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," carries a 22-6-0 record and competes out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Russia. The 42-year-old orthodox striker stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach and lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up fighters in the welterweight division.
Matthews, an Australian fighter nicknamed "The Celtic Kid," holds a 22-8-0 record and trains with Nexus. The 31-year-old is also five-foot-eleven but enjoys a slight reach advantage at 73 inches. He averages 3.34 significant strikes per minute and supplements his striking with 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a more well-rounded offensive profile.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's elbow surgery leaves Matthews without an opponent and his UFC Macau spot in jeopardy
- Both fighters sit in a competitive mid-tier welterweight landscape where a win could push either man toward the rankings
- The stylistic matchup between Salikhov's sharp striking and Matthews' grappling versatility now goes unrealized, at least for the time being
- No timeline has been given for Salikhov's recovery, adding uncertainty to his near-term scheduling
