Muslim Salikhov vs Jake Matthews cancelled at UFC Macau due to elbow surgery

A welterweight matchup between Muslim Salikhov and Jake Matthews that had been set for UFC Macau is off after Salikhov announced he requires elbow surgery and the recovery time that comes with it. The cancellation was first reported by Kevin K and has since been confirmed. No replacement opponent for Matthews has been named.

Salikhov, known as the King of Kung Fu, is a 42-year-old Russian fighter out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School who carries a 22-6 professional record. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and has built a reputation as a volume striker, landing 3.37 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He also mixes in takedowns at a rate of 1.07 per 15 minutes. The elbow procedure will sideline him for the foreseeable future, and both camps will be waiting on his rehabilitation before a rebook can be discussed.

Matthews, the 31-year-old Australian nicknamed The Celtic Kid, trains out of Nexus and holds a 22-8 record. He shares the same height as Salikhov but owns a longer 73-inch reach. Matthews is similarly active on the feet, landing 3.34 significant strikes per minute, and adds a submission dimension to his game with 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes. He now finds himself without a dance partner for UFC Macau and will need a new opponent to be sourced.

Why it matters

• Salikhov's age and required surgery introduce genuine uncertainty about his timeline for returning to competition
• Matthews loses a high-profile opportunity and must wait for the promotion to find a suitable replacement
• Both fighters operate at similar striking volumes, so the cancelled bout would have been an evenly matched stand-up contest with grappling wrinkles on both sides
• The welterweight division loses a notable fight card entry at UFC Macau until a replacement is confirmed