Muslim Salikhov's bout against Jake Matthews scheduled for the UFC event on May 30 has been cancelled. Salikhov underwent hand surgery, forcing the withdrawal. The post does not specify whether the UFC will seek a replacement opponent for Matthews or if the bout will be rescheduled. No further details about the severity of Salikhov's injury or expected recovery timeline were provided. This marks another setback in Salikhov's recent campaign.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his scheduled welterweight bout against Jake Matthews after undergoing hand surgery, with the May 30 UFC matchup now cancelled.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," carries a 22-6 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 has built his reputation on sharp stand-up work, landing 3.37 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. The surgery adds another disruption to what has been a difficult recent stretch for the veteran. No details on the severity of the injury or an expected return date have been made public.
Matthews, the 31-year-old Australian nicknamed "The Celtic Kid," holds a 22-8 record and trains out of Nexus. He is a similarly sized fighter at five-foot-eleven with a slightly longer 73-inch reach. Matthews blends striking with a grappling threat, averaging 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.80 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a multi-dimensional challenge at 170 pounds. It remains unclear whether the UFC will find a replacement opponent for him or look to reschedule the original matchup.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's withdrawal is described as another setback in a recent difficult run, raising questions about his near-term availability
- Matthews is left without an opponent and his path back to action is currently uncertain
- Both fighters sit at identical heights and similar striking output, meaning any rescheduled bout would retain an intriguing stylistic symmetry
- The welterweight division loses a card matchup with no confirmed resolution in sight
