Muslim Salikhov has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau on May 30 due to injury. Salikhov wrote on social media that he underwent elbow surgery and expects to need a couple of weeks for recovery. He expressed disappointment that UFC fans won't see the fight but promised to return and deliver quality performances. The fighter acknowledged that injuries can happen unexpectedly, even when preparation is going well. This marks a setback for Salikhov's fighting schedule.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his welterweight matchup against Jake Matthews at UFC Macau on May 30 after undergoing elbow surgery, the Russian fighter announced on social media.
Salikhov, known as the "King of Kung Fu," carries a 22-6 record and is 42 years old, making the timing of the injury particularly frustrating. Competing out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Russia, the orthodox striker lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate, and mixes in just over one takedown per 15 minutes. In his social media post, Salikhov expressed disappointment for fans while noting that injuries can strike without warning even during strong training camps. He said he expects a recovery period of a couple of weeks and promised to return and deliver quality performances.
Matthews, the 31-year-old Australian known as "The Celtic Kid," now finds himself without an opponent for the event. The Nexus representative holds a 22-8 record and presents a well-rounded threat, landing 3.34 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 1.44 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he holds a slight length advantage over Salikhov, whose reach measures 70 inches at the same listed height.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's surgery removes what would have been a high-stakes striking matchup from the UFC Macau card
- Matthews now needs a replacement opponent to remain on the May 30 event
- Both fighters carry identical 22-win records, so the bout carried meaningful divisional weight at welterweight
- At 42, Salikhov has limited margin for extended absences, making a swift recovery important to his competitive timeline
