Muslim Salikhov's fight against Jake Matthews scheduled for the UFC event on May 30 has been cancelled. Salikhov underwent surgery on his hand, forcing him out of the matchup. No details were provided about the severity of the injury or a potential timeline for his return. The post does not indicate whether Matthews will remain on the card with a replacement opponent or if he will also be removed from the event.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his scheduled welterweight bout against Jake Matthews on May 30 after undergoing hand surgery, wiping the matchup from the card entirely.
Salikhov, known as "King of Kung Fu," is a 42-year-old Russian fighter who trains out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School. He carries a record of 22-6 and has built a reputation as one of the more technically striking-focused welterweights on the roster, landing 3.37 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. No timeline for his recovery or return to competition has been disclosed.
His scheduled opponent, Jake Matthews, is a 31-year-old Australian out of Nexus with a record of 22-8. Known as "The Celtic Kid," Matthews is a well-rounded fighter who generates 3.34 significant strikes per minute while also mixing in 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. It remains unclear whether Matthews will stay on the May 30 card with a replacement opponent or be removed from the event altogether.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's withdrawal leaves a notable gap in the welterweight portion of the card just weeks before the event
- Matthews' status for May 30 is now uncertain, potentially disrupting his own momentum and preparation
- Both fighters carry identical 22-win records and similar striking output, meaning the stylistic matchup will be difficult to replicate on short notice
