Former MMA Series fighter Takhir Abdullaev has his next UFC assignment. Abdullaev will face experienced Australian welterweight Jake Matthews on Nov. 21 at the promotion’s event in Qatar.

The matchup will mark Abdullaev’s second appearance since signing with the UFC. He made his promotional debut in the summer of 2026, getting his UFC run off to a strong start with a stoppage victory over Jefferson Nascimento.

Before making the move to the UFC, Abdullaev established himself as an exciting prospect in MMA Series. Takhir competed three times for the promotion and finished all three of his opponents inside the distance.

Matthews has been competing in the UFC since 2014 and has made more than 20 appearances inside the Octagon. The Australian has earned 16 UFC victories and owns an overall professional record of 23-8.

That means Abdullaev will face a significant step up in experience in just his second UFC outing, taking on one of the longest-tenured competitors in the welterweight division.