Muslim Salikhov's scheduled bout against Jake Matthews at a UFC event on May 30 has been cancelled. Salikhov underwent surgery on his hand, forcing the withdrawal from the matchup. The Russian welterweight will need recovery time before returning to competition. No replacement opponent for Matthews or rescheduling information was provided in the announcement. This marks a setback for Salikhov's plans to compete in late May.
Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of his scheduled welterweight bout against Jake Matthews at a UFC event on May 30, after the Russian fighter underwent surgery on his hand.
Salikhov, 42, carries a 22-6 record and competes out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Russia. Known as "King of Kung Fu," the orthodox striker has built a reputation for sharp stand-up work, landing 3.37 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He also mixes in a modest grappling threat, averaging 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes. The hand surgery will sideline him from the late-May card and push back his competitive timeline.
Matthews, nicknamed "The Celtic Kid," enters the situation without an opponent. The 31-year-old Australian holds a 22-8 record and trains out of Nexus. He is a well-rounded welterweight who lands 3.34 significant strikes per minute and supplements his striking with both takedowns — averaging 1.44 per 15 minutes — and submission attempts at 0.8 per 15 minutes. No replacement opponent has been announced, and no rescheduling details for a Salikhov return have been made public.
Why it matters
- Salikhov's withdrawal disrupts what would have been a competitive striking matchup between two orthodox welterweights with nearly identical heights and similar striking output.
- Matthews now faces an uncertain May 30 card situation, with no confirmed replacement named.
- At 42, Salikhov faces added pressure from recovery time cutting into a competitive window that is already limited by his age.
