UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura · Nov 19, 2017 · Welterweight · Completed
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Age 31
Height 5' 11"
Reach 73.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 37
Height 6' 0"
Reach 76"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Jake Matthews
3.34 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
2.62 SApM
60.0% Str. Def.
1.44 TD Avg
41.0% TD Acc.
64.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Bojan Veličković
2.18 SLpM
34.0% Str. Acc.
2.31 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
0.67 TD Avg
25.0% TD Acc.
55.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Jake Matthews - Fight History
SCHED vs Carlston Harris
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Carlston Harris vs. Jake Matthews
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mattthews (-325); Harris (+250)

Round 1
Thankfully no human ejecta had to be mopped off the mat before welterweights Matthews (22-8; 15-8 UFC) and Harris (19-7; 4-3 UFC) go to work under the watchful eye of referee Jason Herzog. Harris is here on three weeks' notice in place of Muslim Salkihov, who withdrew due to injury. Both gentlemen are in orthodox stance, and the contrast in stances and styles is fascinating: Matthews compact, with a high guard, the lanky “Mocambique” with a wider, looser kickboxer’s stance. Through the first minute there is little action; both fighters throw, but the cleanest contacts are a pair of inadvertent head clashes in the pocket. Hopefully that does not portend another weird finish here. Matthews starts to land more cleanly, tagging Harris with a pair of one-twos, and the Guyana native goes staggering backward. Matthews pursues, a bit too aggressively, as Harris meets him with a pair of wild haymakers that glance but still have a visible effect. “The Celtic Kid” shakes it off, composes himself and goes back to work with his clean, basic boxing combinations, and more of what he throws is landing solidly. Under 90 seconds to go and Harris appears to be largely recovered, but Matthews is continuing to catch him cleanly with two- and three-piece combos. He slips a big punch from Harris and clips him with a counter left hook. Matthews nais Harris with a right uppercut-left hook combo at the 10-second clapper that has him staggering at the horn.
10-9 Matthews.

Round 2
Harris shoots for a takedown instantly, switching to a guard pull when Matthews sprawls. Matthews transitions straight into a mounted triangle choke, but can’t quite secure it. He lets it go but ends up in Harris’ half guard. Harris sits up into octopus guard, trying to sweep or at least get his head out of the way, but Matthews is all over it, and flattens Harris onto his back. Matthews is still in half guard, possibly framing up a topside choke. Harris grabs a guillotine, but it’s on the opposite side and will only get him into trouble. He lets it go, but has nearly succeeded in getting full guard. Then, in a flash, Matthews cuts through Harris’s guard and slides to mount. With a minute to go, Matthews is dropping short elbows. Harris gets back half guard, but Matthews attacks the far arm with a kimura. Harris rolls through to top position, but Matthews keeps the arm and is still working on it at the horn.
10-9 Matthews.

Round 3
“The Celtic Kid” has put in 10 minutes of largely dominant work thus far, but his corner yells at him to get the finish, and he comes out aggressively. However, it’s Harris who lands first, with a pair of grazing shots. Matthews comes back with a right hand that blasts Harris so hard that he goes down headfirst, his forehead clattering off the Octagon floor. The second impact might actually have woken Harris up, but he is clearly still dazed as Matthews follows him to the canvas and takes his back instantly. Matthews with a body triangle and four full minutes to work, and he looks for a rear-naked choke. He can’t get it, and doesn’t like something about the position, so he moves to top position and sets up in his opponent’s half guard. The midpoint of the round passes and Harris appears to be recovered, but he’s in a huge hole here. Matthews is still in half guard, but riding fairly high and clearly looking to pass to mount as he drops elbows and short punches at the base of the cage. Matthews applies heavy pressure, then moves to mount, looking for a shoulder choke. It looks as if he might get it, but after a few moments, he gives up on it and starts dropping punches. The 10-second clapper sounds, and Harris will hear the final horn.
10-8 Matthews (30-26 Matthews).

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris via Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked May 26, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

AJ is confident Matthews will dominate, calling Harris washed and noting his poor recent performances. He highlights Matthews' fast hands and good combos, while Harris is slow and sloppy. AJ predicts a knockout, possibly in the first or second round, and thinks Matthews will show out. He also notes the travel advantage for Matthews (Australia) vs Harris (Brazil).

Matthews finish at -105; Matthews KO at +210; Matthews sub at +375
"I think Matthews to knock him out, dude. ... I think Matthews is going to show out, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Jake Matthews get back on business."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked May 27, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

AJ picks Jake Matthews confidently, calling Carlston Harris washed and past his prime at 38. He notes Harris's slow, herky-jerky striking and recent losses, while Matthews is a fluid kickboxer with high-level grappling. AJ predicts a Matthews finish, possibly by knockout or submission, given Matthews's recent form and Harris's vulnerabilities.

Jake Matthews by finish +100 mentioned as a prop; moneyline at -350
"I actually think Jake Matthews can secure a knockout here. I feel like potential club and sub, too."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lock picked May 18, 2026 (12 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

AJ calls Matthews an 'absolute lock,' believing Harris is washed and old. He notes Matthews is in his prime with clean kickboxing and strong wrestling, while Harris has looked slow and sloppy recently. AJ predicts a finish, possibly by KO or submission, given Harris's decline and short notice.

Jake Matthews wins by KO/TKO or submission
"I'm picking Jake Matthews. I think that Carlston Harris is washed, okay? I think he has fallen off in a massive way over the past couple of years. ... Jake Matthews is an absolute lock on this card."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 29, 2026 (fight day)
Jake Matthews

Angelo picks Jake Matthews to win and finish, noting that Harris is past his prime, less durable, and stepping up on short notice. He believes Matthews is well-rounded and should find a finish.

finish predicted; Jake Matthews in lineup
"Not only do I think Jake Matthews wins, I think Jake Matthews finds a finish. And I will put Jake Matthews in a lineup."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 24, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Angelo is very confident that Jake Matthews will win, citing his power, experience, and the fact that Carlston Harris is coming off a brutal knockout loss. He believes Matthews is the better overall fighter and expects the line to move heavily in Matthews' favor. He advises betting on Matthews now before the odds shorten.

bet now before odds move to -600 or -700
"Jake Matthews wins this fight. Then we have Kai Asakura taking on Cameron Smotherman."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 27, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Angelo picks Jake Matthews because he is the better overall fighter, younger, and has more energy. He notes that Matthews is the better wrestler and striker, and that Carlston Harris is past his prime. He is confident and expects bets on Matthews.

"Jake Matthews is the pick. Frankly, there's definitely going to be some bets on him. He's one of my more confident picks on this card."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 26, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews but is hesitant, calling him the biggest ball dropper and inconsistent. He notes Harris is a front choke merchant and Matthews was just front choked by Neil Magny. He believes Matthews should win but warns he might find a way to lose. He predicts a decision win, saying Matthews should finish but probably won't.

"I'm going Jake Matthews. I'm taking Jake Matthews to win this fight by decision. He should finish, but he probably won't."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 27, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Carlston Harris

Cody picks Harris as a live underdog, citing Matthews' history of getting submitted in the third round when tired. He notes Harris' submission skills (anaconda choke) and that Matthews has been submitted four times in the UFC. Cody believes Harris can catch Matthews late if he survives the early rounds. He also mentions that Matthews' wins are over low-level competition.

Harris by submission +880; live bet Harris in third round
"Carlson Harris has done this a few times himself. the Jeremiah Wells fight. He's probably down two rounds and he catches him with an and aaconda choke and sleeps him unconscious."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked May 27, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Levi picks Matthews but with low confidence, noting his history of choking in big spots. He acknowledges Harris's front choke threat and Matthews's recent submission loss. However, he believes Harris's bad chin and age give Matthews a good chance to knock him out.

Jake Matthews by KO/TKO mentioned as possible; odds: Matthews -350, Harris +285
"I'm going to pick Jake Matthews. I just think timing and momentum is on his side."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Hesitant picked May 27, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Jacob picks Jake Matthews but is hesitant because he feels this fight could be a trap. He notes that Carlston Harris is unorthodox and has power, and Matthews has been submitted before. He warns that Matthews might not use his wrestling and could get caught.

"Something feels weird about this one. I'm going Jake is he's got to be the pick obviously, but as far as like, oh, put him in every parlay and he's going to smoke this guy. Carlson sucks. It's like Carlson's …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 23, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Lucrative James picks Jake Matthews, citing his youth (31 vs 38), better boxing, head movement, and overall skill set compared to Carlston Harris. He notes Matthews' unfortunate last loss due to a referee error but believes he is the better fighter everywhere. He highlights Harris's poor durability, cardio, and recent knockout losses, and expects Matthews to land clean shots and get a knockout. He also mentions Matthews' improved chin and comfort in the UFC.

Jake Matthews via knockout
"I think Jake Matthews gets a knockout in this fight. I don't see Carson Harris lasting."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 25, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The host picks Matthews to win inside the distance, believing his well-rounded game and experience will overcome Harris's reckless striking. He notes Harris is old, hasn't fought in over a year, and is on a two-fight losing streak by knockout. He expects Matthews to counter and outgrapple Harris, leading to a knockout.

"I think there will be plenty of openings for Matthews to land big shots on Harris and I think that will lead to an eventual knockout victory for Matthews."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 27, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The host picks Jake Matthews over short-notice replacement Carlston Harris, noting Matthews' sharper striking and Harris' over-aggressiveness. He expects Matthews to counter with big shots and eventually find a knockout.

by knockout
"I think he has sharper striking and Harris a little bit over aggressive at times. I think we'll see Matthews take advantage of that, countering him with big shots and eventually finding a knockout of his own."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked May 27, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Carlston Harris

Paul also leans Harris, noting that Matthews is overpriced at -350 and has a history of late-round submissions. He mentions Harris' striking is decent and he has a knack for submissions. Paul is not confident enough to bet pre-flop but sees live betting value. He also notes that Matthews' wins are against low-level opponents.

Harris by submission +880; live bet Harris in third round
"If I was forced to click a uh a side of this, it would be the plus 285 on Carlson."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 26, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The Guru picks Matthews to win more often than not. He notes Matthews is a solid boxer with good movement and accuracy, plus decent grappling and ground and pound. Harris has power and an anaconda choke threat but has been less active lately. He thinks if Harris wins, it's via anaconda choke.

Carlston Harris sub prop (anaconda choke) if betting
"For me, I think more often than not, Jake Matthews wins this fight, but I do think if Carlson Harris wins, it's via Anaconda choke."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 20, 2026 (9 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The Guru picks Jake Matthews over Carlston Harris, citing Matthews' youth, athleticism, and technical striking. He believes Matthews' footwork and accuracy will pick apart Harris, who is hittable and fading. He notes Harris' back-to-back KO losses and Matthews' bounce-back potential.

"I'm going to go Jake Matthews to win here."
CANCEL vs Muslim Salikhov
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 29, 2026 (fight day)
Jake Matthews

Angelo picks Jake Matthews to win and finish, noting that his original opponent Muslim Salikhov was replaced by Carlston Harris. He believes Harris is past his prime, less durable, and stepping up on short notice, while Matthews is well-rounded and should find a finish.

finish predicted; Jake Matthews in lineup
"Not only do I think Jake Matthews wins, I think Jake Matthews finds a finish. And I will put Jake Matthews in a lineup."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 23, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Lucrative James picks Jake Matthews, citing his youth (31 vs 38), better boxing, head movement, and overall skill set compared to Carlston Harris. He notes Matthews' unfortunate last loss due to a referee error but believes he is the better fighter everywhere. He highlights Harris's poor durability, cardio, and recent knockout losses, and expects Matthews to land clean shots and get a knockout. He also mentions Matthews' improved chin and comfort in the UFC.

Jake Matthews via knockout
"I think Jake Matthews gets a knockout in this fight. I don't see Carson Harris lasting."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 20, 2026 (9 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The MMA Guru picks Jake Matthews to win by knockout. He notes that Muslim Salikhov is a one-dimensional grappler at 39 years old with poor striking, while Matthews is a good offensive boxer and grappler. He believes Matthews will keep the fight on the feet and land a knockout.

odds glitched, Matthews between -3000 and -150
"I think we're going to see Jack Matthews win this fight and win the fight by knockout."
LOSS vs Neil Magny
Submission R3 3:08 · UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes · Sep 28, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 18 of 44 40% 28 of 54 0 of 1 0% 3 1 4:43
Neil Magny 0 31 of 57 54% 73 of 103 3 of 5 60% 1 0 2:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 9 of 20 45% 10 of 21 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:22
Neil Magny 0 18 of 32 56% 24 of 38 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:08
2 Jake Matthews 0 7 of 16 43% 14 of 23 0 of 0 --- 1 0 3:53
Neil Magny 0 7 of 14 50% 22 of 29 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Jake Matthews 0 2 of 8 25% 4 of 10 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:28
Neil Magny 0 6 of 11 54% 27 of 36 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:38
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 18 of 44 40% 11 of 36 4 of 4 3 of 4 15 of 37 2 of 4 1 of 3
Neil Magny 31 of 57 54% 28 of 52 1 of 2 2 of 3 29 of 52 2 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 9 of 20 45% 4 of 14 3 of 3 2 of 3 8 of 18 1 of 2 0 of 0
Neil Magny 18 of 32 56% 16 of 30 0 of 0 2 of 2 18 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jake Matthews 7 of 16 43% 5 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 3
Neil Magny 7 of 14 50% 7 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 1 7 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Jake Matthews 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 6 1 of 2 0 of 0
Neil Magny 6 of 11 54% 5 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7 2 of 4 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Neil Magny
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Matthews (-475); Magny (+350)

Round 1
Two of the most experienced welterweights in the company wage battle as the main card rolls on, with betting lines a lot wider than most would expect. A substantial favorite of -400 or above, the younger Matthews (22-7, 15-7 UFC) is on his first three-fight win streak in five years. On the other side of the coin, the 38-year-old Magny (30-13, 23-12 UFC) has dropped two of three, all knockouts. The respectful gentlemen will not likely need any refs to keep things clean, but they nevertheless will be joined by referee Jim Perdios. A cordial fist bump is exchanged.
The two swat at one another early with single distant strikes, and Matthews have wider arcs on them but are less accurate. Magny bounces off the cage wall to let go with a low kick, and he is knocked back from a right hand. Magny recovers and flicks out his jab, and he takes a strong calf kick that gives him pause. Magny’s jab bounces off the forehead, and he pushes off the face and his finger grazes the eye. Perdios tells them to be careful, and they carry on.
Matthews chips at the front leg, and Magny spurs into action with a long flurry of punches that largely miss the mark. “The Haitian Sensation” goes after a takedown, and Matthews stops it in its tracks and backs Magny off with a clubbing right hand. Matthews digs a left to the liver and two rights to the head, and he lets Magny unload on him so he can counter back. Magny stays behind his jab, and when Matthews closes in, Magny ties him up. Matthews gets free, and Magny shoots in deep for a double. Matthews tries to defend with a guillotine on the way down, and Magny fights the hand to alleviate the pressure. Magny cannot fight off the choke, and Matthews rolls him over to full mount with one arm holding tight. Matthews squeezes with all his weight, and Magny relaxes and his right arm starts to fall to the side. Perdios waves the fight off right at the bell for a technical submission while saying, “he’s out,” and Magny immediately shouts “No” several times as he stands back up to declare that he is not out. Despite that Perdios called off the fight, he goes back on his decision and says that the fight is still on and that the round is over. This is extremely confusing, as Perdios came into contact with the fighters a moment before the horn sounded, so by definition it should go down as a tech sub or possibly a no contest due to a premature stoppage. Magny catches a serious break here, and he goes back to his corner mad as can be.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
We have reached Round 2 despite the stoppage-non-stoppage. Magny appears fine again, and Matthews lays into him with early offense. The punches and elbows from Matthews lead to a takedown from him, and he drags the grizzled veteran to the floor. From there, Matthews starts to impose his grappling game, comfortably shifting from position to position. “The Celtic Kid” relocates himself into a mounted triangle, with Perdios watching on closely. Magny hangs on tight, not giving up even in a bad, bad way. Magny manages to break out of the sub, but he still finds himself on his back absorbing strikes when not dealing with a submission attempt, setup or trap. Matthews softens up the midsection and moves to half guard, and he hunts for an arm-triangle choke at the same time. The dueling actions allow Magny to get out of the choke and wrap up his opponent. Matthews rides out the remainder of the round on top.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 3
The elder statesman presses the action to start the final round, and he strikes his way into a trip attempt. Matthews remains upright without issue, and he pushes Magny back to reset. Magny tackles his man to the canvas, and Matthews clings to a guillotine choke like before. With the choke in, Matthews uses his feet to walk across the cage wall and flip himself over, but Magny frees himself before getting mounted. Both stand up, and Magny knees the Aussie in the body a few times. Magny presses Matthews down to knee him in the face in the clinch, and he does work with body shots. Matthews busts out of the clinch and retreats, and Magny chases after him and hurts him with a combination of punches. Magny strikes his way into securing a takedown, and he steps into full mount. Matthews scrambles and turns over to get Magny off of him, and he counters with a single as Magny stands up. Magny lifts Matthews up during a takedown and was going to perform a pro wrestling move but spiking is illegal so he thinks twice.
Using his long arms, Magny laces them beneath Matthews’ armpits and under the throat with a surprise brabo choke. Matthews does not panic, even though he has taken some shots and may be fading. As Magny exerts heavy chest pressure with the choke tight as a drum, Matthews has no way out. Before long, he taps out, and Magny has staged the incredible comeback that would only be shocking if it was not Neil “Expletive Deleted” Magny.
Think back to Magny vs. Hector Lombard, or when he snared Daniel Rodriguez in a choke. For the latter, that was the last time Magny landed a submission—and it was a brabo choke then, too. The victor walks back to his corner grinning from ear to ear, even as the crowd does not like it. The story on this match may not be done here, depending on if there is an official review or appeal of the actions in the first round. For the time being, Magny has done it again, pulling off a third-round victory after taking a beating. Matthews is the first fighter repping Oceania tonight to come up short, with their record currently 7-1 with three more to go tonight.

The Official Result
Neil Magny def. Jake Matthews R3 3:08 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Angelo picks Jake Matthews, the biggest favorite on the card, citing his well-rounded skills and high level of competition. He believes Matthews will avoid Magny's clinch game and use takedowns and busy hands to win. He notes that Magny struggles against younger, faster fighters and that Matthews is not stupid enough to engage in a clinch battle.

"Jake Matthews is the pick. That's why he's a five to one favorite here. He was a six to1 favorite, so it did tighten a little bit, but I don't think that's a reflection of people losing confidence as much …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews to win by second-round submission. He believes Matthews has finally put it together and is well-rounded with good boxing, wrestling, and BJJ. He thinks Magny is on the decline and has been submitted in six of his UFC losses.

second round submission
"Give me Jake Matthews. Give me Jake Matthews by second round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Cody picks Matthews, noting he has finally become consistent and is putting his skills together. He believes Matthews is a better striker than Magny now and can defend takedowns, forcing a striking match where Matthews should outland Magny. He also cites the hometown advantage and Magny's recent struggles against leg kicks and younger fighters.

"I got Jake Matthews at this line. He's the biggest favorite on the card, right?"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Connor also picks Matthews, agreeing that Magny's jab-dependent pressure game has faded. He notes that Magny's recent wins have come against opponents who fell apart, and that Matthews's improved combination punching and wrestling could exploit Magny's vulnerabilities. Connor is cautious because Matthews has a history of reverting to a bad back-foot boxing style, but he thinks Matthews's recent performances show he has moved past that.

"I think I'll go with Matthews."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 15, 2025 (13 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

James picks Jake Matthews confidently, stating he is better everywhere—striking, wrestling, and power. He notes Matthews is in his prime at 31 and on the best run of his career, while Magny is an aging veteran with a poor ground game. He expects Matthews to take Magny down at will and possibly finish, but predicts a clear decision (30-27 or 29-28) as most likely.

"Jake Matthews is pretty confident pick here for me."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

James confidently picks Jake Matthews, noting he is the biggest favorite on the card. He predicts a finish, possibly by arm triangle, as Magny is older and has been finished recently. He believes Matthews is in his prime and should win easily.

by submission (arm triangle) or inside the distance
"I'm actually going to predict the finish here now."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The host expects Matthews to take a grapple-heavy approach like his last fight. He acknowledges Magny could have an advantage if the fight goes into deeper water, but thinks Matthews will do enough in the first 10-12 minutes to win on the scorecards.

"I'm expecting Matthews to take another grapple heavy approach just like he did last time around against Chitty and Jakuani. I think he might meet some resistance here and should this fight go into deeper water, it could start to …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

The Guru picks Jake Matthews, believing his well-rounded game and experience against long fighters like Neil Magny will pay off. He notes Matthews' recent submission win and thinks he can replicate that success. He predicts a TKO via low kicks and follow-up shots, calling it a coming-out party.

TKO via low kicks
"I'm going to go with Jake Matthews getting this one done."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Zane picks Matthews, citing his recent improvements in combination punching and assertiveness. He notes that Magny looks vulnerable on the feet now and has lost his ability to put pressure with his jab. Zane thinks Matthews's wrestling and willingness to mix it up could be key, as Magny has historically struggled against wrestlers. He acknowledges that Matthews's past struggles are a concern, but believes the current version of Matthews is better.

"I think I'll go with Matthews."
Submission R1 1:09 · UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira · Jul 12, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 3 of 7 42% 5 of 9 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:29
Chidi Njokuani 0 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 3 of 7 42% 5 of 9 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:29
Chidi Njokuani 0 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 3 of 7 42% 3 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0
Chidi Njokuani 5 of 10 50% 0 of 2 3 of 6 2 of 2 4 of 8 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 3 of 7 42% 3 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0
Chidi Njokuani 5 of 10 50% 0 of 2 3 of 6 2 of 2 4 of 8 1 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Njokuani (-150); Matthews (+125)

Round 1
Don’t look now, but Matthews (21-7, 14-7 UFC) is about to turn 31 and enter into his 22nd UFC appearance. His assignment tonight is the brick-fisted ex-middleweight Njokuani (25-10, 1 NC; 5-3 UFC), who had issues making weight but still hit 170.5 after coming back within the extra hour allotment. Knowing this one could last five minutes or five seconds, referee Jimmy Neely is prepped and ready for what’s to come. The fighters touch gloves.
Njokuani instantly capitalizes on his considerable reach advantage by letting fly a number of vicious kicks off the guard of his opponent. One or two get through, and Matthews proves he has a chin on him early. Njokuani fights Matthews back, and Matthews trips him to the mat and takes his back while Njokuani is on his knees.
Matthews starts looking for a short choke from behind, and Njokuani stands up and leans against the cage to take some of the weight off of him. “The Celtic Kid” clings to and changes his grip, keeping his forearm beneath the chin, and his rear-naked choke is tight as a tiger. Njokuani nearly shakes Matthews off of his back, but with Matthews clinging on the side choking the life out of him, “Chidi Chidi Bang Bang” is forced to surrender.
Matthews lets go and apologizes to Njokuani for finishing him, and calmly walks away to chat with announcer Bruce Buffer.

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Chidi Njokuani R1 1:09 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 6, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Angelo likes Jake Matthews as an underdog, noting his durability, good chin, and ability to wrestle. He thinks Chidi Njokuani cuts too much weight, may have a fading chin, and can be taken down if you get to his legs. He emphasizes that if Matthews chooses to wrestle, he can win, but his fight IQ is questionable. He also suggests a 'win inside distance' prop as a possible bet.

Suggests 'win inside distance' prop (decision no action) as a possible bet.
"I like Jake Matthews here if he chooses to wrestle."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 8, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady is torn on this fight. He notes Chidi Njokuani is dangerous when things go his way but quits under adversity, especially if taken down. Jake Matthews has a clear path via wrestling, but is hit or miss. If Matthews wrestles, he can finish Chidi. Brady picks Matthews by second-round submission but says he may not bet on it and wants to see weigh-ins.

second round submission
"Give me Jake Matthews by submission. I'll say second round submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 9, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Chidi Njokuani

The host expects Njokuani to continue his winning streak since moving to welterweight. He believes Njokuani will stuff Matthews' takedowns and use his Muay Thai advantage to batter Matthews on the feet, winning a decision. Matthews is on a winning streak but Njokuani is streaking as well.

"Matthews finally is on a winning streak for the first time in 5 years. Unfortunately, he's going up against a streaking Chitty Kawani who was undefeated since going down to 170 lbs. And I expect him to keep that winning …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Chidi Njokuani

The MMA Guru picks Chidi Njokuani, arguing that Jake Matthews is too reliant on his hands and lacks finishing potential compared to Njokuani's rangy striking with kicks and knees. He notes Matthews' inconsistency and tendency to get caught by strikers, citing his fight with Matthew Semelsberger where he was knocked down every round. He expects Njokuani to keep Matthews at range with teeps and low kicks, then catch him in the clinch for a second-round TKO.

second round TKO
"I'm gonna go with Chidina Jiquani over Jake Matthews. ... I think Chidino Jiuani is going to score a TKO win here."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 312: du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 · Feb 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 68 of 184 36% 95 of 215 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Francisco Prado 0 59 of 146 40% 64 of 152 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 20 of 58 34% 23 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francisco Prado 0 22 of 57 38% 22 of 57 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:33
2 Jake Matthews 0 22 of 57 38% 39 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francisco Prado 0 18 of 41 43% 21 of 44 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:16
3 Jake Matthews 0 26 of 69 37% 33 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Francisco Prado 0 19 of 48 39% 21 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:27
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 68 of 184 36% 39 of 146 24 of 33 5 of 5 56 of 169 12 of 15 0 of 0
Francisco Prado 59 of 146 40% 17 of 92 19 of 28 23 of 26 47 of 132 11 of 13 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 20 of 58 34% 17 of 51 3 of 7 0 of 0 17 of 54 3 of 4 0 of 0
Francisco Prado 22 of 57 38% 5 of 34 9 of 12 8 of 11 18 of 52 3 of 4 1 of 1
2 Jake Matthews 22 of 57 38% 11 of 43 11 of 14 0 of 0 19 of 53 3 of 4 0 of 0
Francisco Prado 18 of 41 43% 5 of 25 4 of 7 9 of 9 13 of 35 5 of 6 0 of 0
3 Jake Matthews 26 of 69 37% 11 of 52 10 of 12 5 of 5 20 of 62 6 of 7 0 of 0
Francisco Prado 19 of 48 39% 7 of 33 6 of 9 6 of 6 16 of 45 3 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Matthews (-225), Prado (+185)

Round 1
It may be shocking to some that Matthews (20-7, 13-7 UFC) is 30 years of age, but he will be entering into his 21st UFC outing as the main card opens up. “The Celtic Kid” will have to tangle with Argentinian gunslinger Prado (12-2, 1-2 UFC), who has 12 career wins with six by submission and the other six via knockout. The welterweights will be overseen by referee Mike Beltran, who plans on keeping things on the up-and-up following the glove touch. Matthews jabs his way forward, skirting away from a low kick early. Matthews follows a jab with a right hand, and he dips to dodge a looping hook. Matthews steps in to mark up Prado with a sharp right hand, and Prado kicks and flips himself over to get back to his feet. Both men meet in the middle and throw massive leather, and Prado gets stunned momentarily but is ready and willing to keep brawling if the mood fits them. Matthews peels back, instead measuring with long, straight punches. Prado lunges at him and tries to spin with a back fist, but the strike goes wide. Prado gets in a low kick but rips the body with a right hand, and the two clash into a clinch that allows Matthews to bust Prado in the chops with uppercuts. Matthews pushes off and takes a body shot on the way out. Matthews strikes first and last in a combination, and he lets Prado escape out the side so he can time a body kick. They proceed to pop one another with simultaneous hooks, and Prado keeps sitting down on sheer power. The leg kicks are effective for the Argentinian, who escapes danger by a matter of millimeters as the two swing bad intentions at one another’s skull. Matthews finds his target with a piercing right hand again and again, damaging Prado’s face but not drawing blood. Prado rushes forward to get hold of a body lock, and he lowers the Aussie to his back with a falling slam. Matthews absorbs an elbow to prompt him to stand up quickly, and he engages in a short but fierce slugfest where he does cut open Prado’s right eyebrow. As the punches continue to come from Matthews, he chases his foe down until the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, and it is Matthews who cuts the cage off right off the bat. Prado is lured into a high-amplitude swing fest, with Matthews the faster, more accurate of the two. Prado uses a standing elbow to frame off, only for Matthews to pounce and split a cut open on the bridge of the nose. Prado keeps Matthews honest with his haymakers, but Matthews is defter and able to keep Prado on his back foot. Prado’s left hook still gets in, and his takedown shot is shoved aside. Prado drives a knee on the jaw, and he gets driven back by a fierce left hand. Prado slings a hard leg kick, but it is one-and-done as Matthews has him backing away. Prado rips a left to the liver and fakes a spin so he can shoot for a takedown, but Matthews is wise to it and punches him in the face in response. Matthews intercepts Prado coming in with an uppercut, and he has his takedown defense ready to shut down an entry. Prado succeeds in planting Matthews back against the fence, grinding on the veteran and working on him with knees and short shots. Matthews wraps up a possible submission setup, and he pushes Prado away to his preferred range. Matthews snaps the head back with a litany of uppercuts, and he parries a front kick when backing away. Matthews’ hands are sharp and active, putting several together every time Prado hurls one big one. Another exchange leads to a cut on the top of Prado’s hairline on the left side, and blood streams immediately into his eye. The horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 3
There is a clap of hands to open the final frame, and Matthews fights behind a jab to get inside. This leads to huge punches from both sides, and Matthews’ land first and cleaner. Prado goes to the body with a kick as he backs away, and he loops a right hand that Matthews is able to dodge. Matthews’ volume punching is forcing Prado to fight conservatively, and it allows Matthews to pick up on the timing when Prado loads up at him. Matthews strings two or three together as Prado snaps one punch off, and he slaps Prado in the face with the instep of his foot. The Argentinian shoots for a takedown in the open cage, and his effort is tossed aside without much wasted movement. Matthews sits down on two heavy left hands, blasting Prado in the jaw and stunning him two times in a row. Prado closes in to clinch and get his head back, only to lean too far down to absorb a knee on the chin. Matthews gets a little space and starts rattling off short combinations, while Prado is relegated to single power swings. Matthews dips and pops Prado with two right hands after evading a massive blow, and he lets Prado overswing so he can further touch him. Matthews leans far enough down to avoid two punches, and he opens up with a right hand that snaps the head back before clinching Prado. Prado backs away out of it and shoots for a takedown, and the two clash heads. Matthews grinds on his man against the fencing as seconds tick off the clock, hanging on with knees to the body and thigh until the match concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-27 Matthews)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-27 Matthews)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-27 Matthews)

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Francisco Prado via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews, citing his technical striking advantage and superior grappling. He notes that Prado is moving up a weight class and will be undersized. He also mentions the hometown advantage for Matthews in Australia. However, he acknowledges Matthews' inconsistency. Brady predicts a competitive decision win for Matthews.

"give me Matthews give me Matthews to win uh I think probably competitive decision"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Connor also picks Matthews, agreeing with Zane's analysis. He notes that Prado is a brawler who will walk into Matthews' shots. He adds that Matthews' back-foot boxing should work well. However, he hopes Prado can make it interesting by just swarming, but expects Matthews to win.

Same odds as Zane.
"I'm picking Matthews as well for the exact sort of framework you laid out."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Matthews impressed with his ability to take opponents down in his last fight. He will mix striking and grappling to keep Prado on the defensive. The pick is for Matthews to win by decision.

decision
"I look for Matthews to put together a full body of work here to win this fight on the scorecards by mixing and striking and grappling to keep PR on the defensive"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Zane picks Matthews, noting that Prado has no range game and poor defense. Matthews can potshot from the back foot and avoid Prado's hooks. He thinks Matthews' speed and technical boxing will be too much. However, he dislikes the booking because Matthews is a gatekeeper who should be fighting prospects, not getting favorable matchups.

Matthews opened at -209, currently -221; Prado opened at +182, currently +192.
"I'm going to pick Jake Matthews."
WIN vs Philip Rowe
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier · Jun 01, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 34 of 104 32% 40 of 111 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:50
Philip Rowe 0 66 of 164 40% 89 of 188 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 18 of 46 39% 18 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Philip Rowe 0 30 of 73 41% 35 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
2 Jake Matthews 0 14 of 52 26% 14 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Philip Rowe 0 34 of 84 40% 34 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Jake Matthews 0 2 of 6 33% 8 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:50
Philip Rowe 0 2 of 7 28% 20 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 1 2:54
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 34 of 104 32% 27 of 92 1 of 3 6 of 9 32 of 102 2 of 2 0 of 0
Philip Rowe 66 of 164 40% 36 of 125 18 of 27 12 of 12 60 of 155 3 of 6 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 18 of 46 39% 14 of 39 1 of 1 3 of 6 16 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0
Philip Rowe 30 of 73 41% 17 of 56 6 of 10 7 of 7 26 of 68 2 of 3 2 of 2
2 Jake Matthews 14 of 52 26% 11 of 47 0 of 2 3 of 3 14 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
Philip Rowe 34 of 84 40% 18 of 64 11 of 15 5 of 5 33 of 81 1 of 3 0 of 0
3 Jake Matthews 2 of 6 33% 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Philip Rowe 2 of 7 28% 1 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Philip Rowe
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Matthews (-162), Rowe (+136)

Round 1
Keeping on with welterweight action, hyper-aggressive New Yorker Rowe (10-4, 3-2 UFC) will try to win one for local fans as he takes on Australia’s Matthews (19-7, 12-7 UFC). In all 10 of Rowe’s pro victories, he has prevailed by stoppage. His foe Matthews is no stranger to finishes, with all of his wins dating back to 2022 coming inside the distance. The fighters will collide under the supervision of referee Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, and they do not touch gloves when he says it’s time to fight. Rowe shifts immediately to the middle of the Octagon, and he measures out his range with a low kick to either side of Matthews’ lead leg. Matthews jabs out, aiming one to the body as he finds his distance, and he evades a sweeping kick so he can give one back. Rowe sets up a high kick as Matthews, and commentator Daniel Cormier gushes on Rowe’s basketball prowess. As Cormier is talking about a pickup basketball game, Rowe absorbs a few low kicks, and Matthews then punches his way inside and even threatens with a trip. Matthews keeps jabbing the body, and Rowe stands firm and plants two heavy right hands on the temple. Matthews backs him off with body shots, and Rowe poses and flexes like Super Macho Man. Matthews takes a punch combo and digs a left to the body and right up top, and Rowe acknowledges the land with a nod. Rowe connects with a crisp right hand, smashing up Matthews’ nose, but Matthews is ready to bang and he throws back recklessly. Rowe wades in, and the two welterweights swing for the bleachers. A thudding right hand from Matthews finds its home on Rowe’s cheek, and swelling immediately develops. Rowe has a front kick split the guard, and he parries an overhand right. Matthews tries to come out firing with three punches, and when Rowe blocks it, the New Yorker dances. Rowe intensely strides forward, sticking out a sharp jab and keeping his guard tight. Rowe jumps forward with a knee, and Matthews lowers his left hand down and smacks the top of Rowe’s cup in an awkward situation. Rowe drops to his knees, and Ribeiro calls time. “The Fresh Prince” freshens himself up after a minute to recover, and they get going with a vengeance. Matthews races at him throwing hands, and Rowe retaliates and drives several knees to the dome. Rowe wings a head kick and falls to his back, and Matthews leaps after him and holds him down until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rowe
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rowe
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
Despite taking some facial damage in the last round, Matthews appears the more confident of the two, and he surges forward to attack. Matthews swings a left and a right, and he jumps forward to plant an uppercut on the chin. Rowe keeps his guard up to defend the follow-up blows, only for Matthews to wrap three punches around his shell to ring his bell. Rowe wobbles back, knees weak, arms heavy, but there is nothing on his sweater already. Rowe chambers and fires a right hand, getting Matthews’ attention, but Matthews quickly gathers himself and stings him with a short right from up close. Rowe pushes out a jab to calm things down and reassume his range, and Matthews pushes through it to aim two punches to the body and a right over the top that does not get through. Rowe gets off a leg kick, and he blocks a check left hook. When Rowe crashes the pocket, his guard is able to protect him from the swarming punches aimed at his head. Rowe lands another solid low kick, and he slides back to let an overhand right glance off his shoulder. Rowe intercepts a punch combination with a knee up the middle, and Matthews jabs the body in response. Matthews tries and fails to let loose with three hooks, only for Rowe to guard each one. Rowe checks a kick, and he gets driven back by a double jab. Matthews throws out another double jab to follow a right up top, and he does a similar combination that is met with a mighty Rowe right hook. Rowe connects with a clean right hand, and Matthews slings a right hook back that bounces off the dome. One last left from Matthews ends the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 3
The fighters bump fists before engaging, and engage they do immediately. Rowe springs into action, throwing power shots, and Matthews replies in kind. Rowe tries to push forward and take the Aussie down, and Matthews reverses him and plants him on his back. Rowe does not quit moving, sweeping “The Celtic Kid” and put himself in half guard. Rowe clings from on top, preferring to maintain position rather than open himself up with strikes. Matthews sits up and pulls Rowe back into his full guard, and he turns his back and gives it up to escape. Rowe slides off the back, and Matthews shifts on top with Rowe on his side. Matthews tries to break up the leglock around his own leg so he can pass, and the scramble results in an odd pretzel situation as Rowe uses his arm to turn Matthews over. Matthews reasserts his position while Rowe stays turned on his side, and he slithers his leg out so he can shift to three-quarter mount. Matthews pursues an arm-triangle choke, and Rowe turns the proper direction to break it up but remains stuck on his back. Matthews lines up a one-arm guillotine choke, using the grip perhaps for position rather than submission. Rowe explodes in an effort to get up, but Matthews thwarts him one last time before the fight concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Matthews)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Matthews)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Matthews)

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Philip Rowe via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 26, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Angelo picks Philip Rowe despite his poor fight IQ in the last fight where he grappled Neil Magny unnecessarily. He believes Rowe is the better striker and should win if he sticks to striking and uses his range. He trusts that the loss was a wake-up call, but is not highly confident due to Rowe's decision-making.

"I'm going to go Phil here I hate that I'm going to go Phil here I don't necessarily trust him but I am going to go with Phil"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 31, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Philip Rowe

Big Brady is not a huge fan of Philip Rowe but acknowledges he is a popular dog with a 100% finish rate. He notes Jake Matthews is inconsistent and has dropped the ball as a favorite. He thinks Rowe is live to win and keep his finish rate intact, being much bigger.

Philip Rowe wins by finish (KO/submission)
"Phil row 7,900 I'm not the biggest fan of Phil row um he seems to be a very popular dog this week"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Cody picks Rowe, echoing Paul's sentiment. He details Matthews' flaws: poor striking, questionable chin, and tendency to lose as a favorite. Cody notes Rowe's 80-inch reach, volume, and durability. He believes Matthews will struggle to take Rowe down and will get outpointed on the feet. Cody mentions Rowe's wins over Orion Cosce and Jason Witt, and his KO of Nico Price.

"Matthews has lost five of his seven UFC losses as the betting favorite... Rowe has an 80-inch reach... I would dig Phil Rowe."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 28, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Daniel calls Matthews 'Flake Matthews' due to mental lapses. He likes Rowe's physical tools, reach, and power, and expects him to establish his jab and land a big right hand. He sees a submission or KO possibility and plans to bet two units.

"I'm gonna go Phil row here to come out here and set back Jake Matthews"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

The host leans on Rowe's striking advantage, citing his height, reach, and improved range management. Matthews has not been using his wrestling lately, which is his path to victory. If Matthews stays on the feet, Rowe should pick him apart and possibly get a knockout. The host calls this the toughest fight to call but sides with Rowe's technical striking.

"I'm ultimately going to lean with the Phil Rowe side and lean on his striking heavy approach."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

Paul picks Rowe, citing Matthews' history of losing as a favorite. He notes Matthews has lost five of his seven UFC losses as the betting favorite. Paul likes Rowe's reach advantage (80-inch reach), jab, and durability. He believes Matthews' grappling won't be as effective against Rowe's length, and Rowe can win by decision or late KO. He mentions Rowe's close fight with Neil Magny.

"Jake Matthews as a favorite in this type of spot... Phil Rowe on top of that... being able to make the fight ugly and close against Neil Magny... I'll take that plus 140."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Philip Rowe

The MMA Guru picks Philip Rowe as his underdog of the card. He believes Jake Matthews struggles against taller, rangier opponents and that Matthews' best work is at close range. Rowe is a good grappler and has better range striking. He notes that Matthews' wins are not impressive and that Rowe has shown more. He predicts Rowe may win by clinch knees and body shots.

"I'm actually going to go with Philip bro um I think he's underrated"
LOSS vs Michael Morales
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig · Nov 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Morales 0 84 of 208 40% 84 of 208 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:07
Jake Matthews 0 57 of 149 38% 57 of 149 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Morales 0 26 of 73 35% 26 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Jake Matthews 0 14 of 40 35% 14 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Morales 0 36 of 77 46% 36 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jake Matthews 0 18 of 46 39% 18 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Michael Morales 0 22 of 58 37% 22 of 58 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Jake Matthews 0 25 of 63 39% 25 of 63 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Morales 84 of 208 40% 45 of 157 12 of 17 27 of 34 80 of 197 4 of 11 0 of 0
Jake Matthews 57 of 149 38% 33 of 109 17 of 24 7 of 16 54 of 146 3 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Morales 26 of 73 35% 12 of 54 3 of 5 11 of 14 26 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jake Matthews 14 of 40 35% 7 of 26 6 of 11 1 of 3 13 of 39 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Michael Morales 36 of 77 46% 20 of 58 7 of 10 9 of 9 32 of 68 4 of 9 0 of 0
Jake Matthews 18 of 46 39% 13 of 37 3 of 3 2 of 6 18 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Morales 22 of 58 37% 13 of 45 2 of 2 7 of 11 22 of 56 0 of 2 0 of 0
Jake Matthews 25 of 63 39% 13 of 46 8 of 10 4 of 7 23 of 61 2 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Michael Morales
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Morales (-270), Matthews (+230)

Round 1
The winner of this co-main event may earn a place in the top 15 at welterweight. It could be undefeated 23-year-old wunderkind Morales (15-0, 3-0 UFC), or former wunderkind-turned-veteran Matthews (19-6, 12-6 UFC). Referee Herb Dean will know which one it is first, and he is confident this will be all above board. The 170ers calmly slap fists, and Morales snaps out a jab. Matthews does the same, as they use it as a rangefinder. Morales scores an inside leg kick that lands with a thump, and he just misses with a left hook. Morales bounces off the fence with a Superman punch that Matthews bats away, and Matthews backs him off with a right hand. Morales rebounds with a right of his own, and he slips in a jab to break up a combination that buzzes his hair. Matthews digs to the body as he eats a leg kick, and Morales’ jab has already reddened Matthews’ face up a bit. Matthews overswings and stumbles, and Morales lets him up so that he can stick the jab in his face. Morales connects with a slapping kick, and Matthews unloads with an overhand left that surprises his foe. Morales fires back with a right hand down the pipe, and Matthews staggers but does not fall down. The two reset and start trading calf kicks one after the other, and Matthews breaks the chain with a swatting left to the body. Morales sits down on a leg kick, and Matthews jabs him of his feet. Morales climbs back up and is quick to engage with a one-two, and he kicks out Matthews’ leg to drop Matthews to a knee. Matthews returns to his feet and blocks a trio of punched aimed at his mug. Morales plants a one-two on the jaw, and he looks to follow it with a flying knee but is caught in midair and hurled down to the mat. Morales springs back up as Matthews raises his eyebrows, and Matthews swings a right hand and gets jabbed back. Morales peppers the lead leg and comes up short with a jumping switch kick, and again Matthews raises his eyebrows. The Aussie surges forward with a left and a right, and Morales tanks them right on the chin and shrugs them off. Morales leaps at him with a flying knee, and he lands to attempt a takedown. Morales attempts one more Superman punch off the cage, and the tense round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales

Round 2
The welterweights bump their fists together before trading them. They feint leg kicks, and Morales jumps forward with a right hand. When Matthews attempts to respond, Morales digs his shin in the calf. Morales whiffs on a counter when Matthews pops him, and jumps forward with a stomp kick to the knee. Morales gets his jab going again, disrupting the overhand right from “The Celtic Kid,” and he stings Matthews with a long and powerful series of uppercuts. Matthews shakes his head when he escapes, and he chips at Morales’ calf and wings a right hand that comes up short. Matthews has a one-two bounce off gloves, and Morales answers him with a thudding kick to the calf that is showing some damage. Matthews paws out his own jab, and they both throw hands and catch the other. Morales shakes his arms out, and he turns to dodge the worst of a one-two coming at his face. Morales gets off a few inside kicks, and he jabs as Matthews kicks him back. Morales ducks a looping right hand and hops away from darting offense so he can counter with sharp strikes. Morales slips and rips with a right hand, and he does eat a right hand on the way out after landing a few strikes of his own. Morales peppers out the jab and eats a right hand for his effort, and he answers a few strikes with a Superman punch. Matthews digs to the body, and Morales rifles back a quick and dangerous right hand that snaps the head back. Matthews keeps a stiff upper lip as he eats a few jabs on the nose, and he swats out a left hook and keeps his guard up as Morales springs into action. Morales jump with a knee, a body kick, and he releases a long series of punches and a high kick at the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales

Round 3
There is a final tap of the gloves to start off the last round, and Matthews strikes first with a kick from either leg. Morales shuts down a punch by working the lead leg, and Matthews beats him to the punch with a few additional strikes. Matthews fires off a one-two, and a leg kick that follows slams right into the 23-year-old’s cup. Morales groans as Dean calls time, and it does not take long before Morales signals he is ready to go. Just 30 seconds elapse before the fight resumes, and Matthews wants to take advantage of the discomfort by crowding his adversary with looping punches. Morales strafes away and counters, and he settles down and prods out a jab. Morales shakes his hands out and starts doing the Ali Shuffle, and he leaps into action with a knee that flies past the Australian. Matthews lunges with two punches, and Morales slides just to the side and counters with a right hand. Morales drives a kick to the calf, and Matthews stumbles. He kicks the same spot, and Matthews catches his leg and tries to take Morales down. Morales recovers his balance and swats away a jumping front kick. Matthews attempts a one-two, and Morales parries him with ease. When Matthews jabs the body, Morales kicks him on the inside of the leg. The unbeaten fighter continues working the leg on both sides, and he stays out of range from the power punches hurled back his direction. Morales lands a right hand after evading Matthews’, and Morales throws two punches and a body kick that strikes the peninsula south of the equator. Matthews groans from the foul, and Dean pauses the fight for a few seconds before Matthews waves them back on. Matthews charges with a pair of punches, and Morales steps to the side and releases two kicks with the same leg in rapid succession. Morales drives a shovel uppercut that brushes the beard, and Matthews goes after him and puts hands on his opponent. Morales throws back, keeping composed and still barely breaking a sweat after nearly 15 minutes of activity. Matthews tries to corner him and lay into him, and Morales pushes him away and snipes him with an uppercut. With 15 seconds to go, the Ecuadorian attempts a takedown, and Matthews shuts it down and lets his hands go. They brawl it out to end the fight, with a jump knee by Morales mixed in during the final slugfest. They hear the final bell, and hug it out.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales (30-27 Morales)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Morales (30-27 Morales)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales (30-27 Morales)

The Official Result
Michael Morales def. Jake Matthews via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Michael Morales

Angelo is very confident in Michael Morales, calling him an incredible prospect with wrestling and Muay Thai credentials. He notes Morales has cardio and finishes fights. He thinks -255 feels like a discount and that Morales can be parlayed. He expects Morales to dominate.

Odds comment: minus 255 feels like a discount; can be parlayed
"Michael Morales is the very confident pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Michael Morales

Big Brady thinks Matthews' wins are against low-level competition and that Morales has a massive reach advantage (7 inches), higher volume, and power. He notes Matthews gets knocked down often, as in the Semelsberger fight. He predicts Morales wins by decision, citing the reach, volume, and strength as key differences.

"I'm going to take Morales to win this fight by decision I think the power the reach the size is going to be the difference here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michael Morales

Cody picks Michael Morales confidently, citing his youth, physical strength, and 92% takedown defense. He notes that Jake Matthews struggles against decent competition, has low striking volume, and poor durability. Morales has a 6-inch reach advantage and can win by knockout or decision. Cody expects Morales to out-strike Matthews and stuff takedowns, leading to a win.

"Morales should be the Victor so that that is the pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 17, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Michael Morales

Morales is a physical specimen with power and takedown defense. Matthews is inconsistent and may struggle to take Morales down, forcing him to strike where Morales has the advantage. Morales is faster and stronger, and will likely land a knockout in the first or second round.

win inside the distance
"I still believe Morales gets his hand raised and I think he does it inside the distance"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Michael Morales

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Morales' reach advantage and ability to keep the fight at range. He mentions Morales' judo background and confidence on the ground. Paul thinks the line is a bit wide but expects Morales to show improvements and win.

"I'm with you Michael Morales minus 310 for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Michael Morales

The MMA Guru picks Michael Morales over Jake Matthews, predicting a decision win with Matthews getting knocked down in key moments. He criticizes Matthews as a boxer with a double leg who doesn't surprise opponents. He notes Morales' reach, power, and dynamism as the difference, and compares Matthews' performance to a Matt Semelsberger-like showing.

decision 30-27, Matthews knocked down
"I'm going to go Michael Morales... I think the reach difference, the power difference, the dynamic difference... is going to be the difference here."
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:37 · UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 · Jul 29, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 60 of 101 59% 71 of 113 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:15
Darrius Flowers 0 36 of 64 56% 41 of 69 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 37 of 63 58% 42 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Darrius Flowers 0 30 of 56 53% 35 of 61 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:03
2 Jake Matthews 0 23 of 38 60% 29 of 45 0 of 0 --- 1 0 1:15
Darrius Flowers 0 6 of 8 75% 6 of 8 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 60 of 101 59% 40 of 78 14 of 17 6 of 6 47 of 84 2 of 5 11 of 12
Darrius Flowers 36 of 64 56% 21 of 48 6 of 6 9 of 10 31 of 57 5 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 37 of 63 58% 21 of 47 11 of 11 5 of 5 35 of 58 2 of 5 0 of 0
Darrius Flowers 30 of 56 53% 17 of 42 5 of 5 8 of 9 25 of 49 5 of 7 0 of 0
2 Jake Matthews 23 of 38 60% 19 of 31 3 of 6 1 of 1 12 of 26 0 of 0 11 of 12
Darrius Flowers 6 of 8 75% 4 of 6 1 of 1 1 of 1 6 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Darrius Flowers vs. Jake Matthews
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Matthews (-260), Flowers (+220)

Round 1
Sticking around a little longer in the welterweight division, at 29, the “The Celtic Kid” Matthews (18-6, 11-6 UFC) may not quite be a kid any longer. With visions of bouncing back into the win column again, he welcomes Flowers (12-5-1, 0-0 UFC) to the world-famous Octagon. The third man inside of that cage with them will be referee Tyler Tomlinson, and he stands back as the two combatants touch ‘em up. Flowers takes to the center of the cage immediately, while Matthews strafes around the side. Flowers gets off a stern leg kick, and he hops back to avoid a jab. The Aussie lands a right hand on the temple, and he absorbs a leg kick to launch a high kick that careens off the guard. Flowers rests and takes a hard leg kick, and he avoids a looping right hand by a matter of inches. Matthews checks a kick and gets backed up to the wall, with Flowers pouring it on with volume and intensity. The two throws bombs at one another, and Matthews gets the better of an exchange to knock Flowers back. Flowers reaches him with a right hook, and Matthews slams a left hook to the liver to stun Flowers. After gathering his thoughts, Flowers charges, and Matthews and pushes him out of the way to work the body. They trade leg kicks, and Flowers shrugs at him. Flowers whiffs on a gnarly uppercut, and he again backs Matthews up and unloads on him. Matthews throws back accurately to keep Flowers honest, and he drills an elbow on the back of the ear to make Flowers take back off. Flowers then advances right into a liver shot, and this makes him reevaluate his position. Matthews digs a front kick to the body, and he stabs his toes to the same target with a second kick. Matthews has found his groove with those front kicks, and he mixes things up with a few stomp kicks to the thigh. Flowers plods forward, seemingly slowing down, while Matthews is able to be light on his feet and keep moving to pick at him from range. Matthews rips a left to the body and a right to the head, and Flowers staggers and takes a funny step back. Matthews charges, and Flowers was playing possum, as he swings with a huge right hand to surprise Matthews. The Australian fighter dodges it just enough to not get hurt, and Flowers wags his finger at him. As they trade hands, Flowers changes levels suddenly and secures a double-leg takedown to put Matthews on his back. Matthews defends with a guillotine choke, and he sets it up even as Flowers moves to the side. Matthews sits up, no choke locked up, and the exciting round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
Matthews offers a glove touch, but Flowers is taking deep breaths and backs off early. Matthews gives chase and reaches him with a high kick, and he steps forward with a front kick that slams in to the liver. Based on Flowers’ reaction, it collided with his groin, as he falls to his knees and drops to his face. Tomlinson calls the foul and allows Flowers to recover, and the replay shows that the strike appeared legal although the heel subsequently may have bounced into the cup. The crowd is incensed, as they believe this should be a TKO victory for Matthews. Tomlinson is not affected by the crowd and continues to allow Flowers to recover. Tomlinson calls in the doctor, and Flowers is still leaned over on his knees in pain. When three minutes pass, Flowers is cleared to compete and the fight resumes. Matthews kicks the same spot beneath the ribs when they get back to it, and Flowers lets his hands go to back the Aussie up. Matthews digs a few more kicks to the body, and he rings Flowers’ bell with an overhand right. Flowers advances, dipping his head back and forth, and he dodges the worst of the strikes. Flowers catches a front kick and tries to lift the leg up and dump Matthews to the mat, but he lets it go to allow them to keep trading. Matthews lands a right hand, stuffs a takedown and bowls Flowers over. Matthews lands in half guard, and he quickly isolates Flowers’ left arm to set up a two-on-one wrist lock. “The Celtic Kid” uses the kimura to advance to full mount, and he postures up to hammer Flowers with ground-and-pound. Flowers’ mouthpiece pops out, and Tomlinson allows him to reset it. Matthews works Flowers over with ground-and-pound, forcing Flowers to turn to his stomach.
The 29-year-old flattens Flowers out, and he sets up the rear-naked choke in a hurry. Flowers knows he has been thoroughly plucked, as he is wilting and cannot defend himself any longer. The very moment that Matthews completes the rear-naked choke grip, Flowers is already tapping.
It was a valiant UFC debut for Flowers, who had the veteran in trouble a few times, but he ultimately found himself outmatched in the end. Some may joke that Matthews should have earned two victories tonight, one for the front kick and another for the submission, but Matthews got the job done when it mattered most.

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Darrius Flowers R2 2:37 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Angelo picks Jake Matthews despite his last embarrassing loss, citing his toughness and ability to weather storms. He expects Flowers to come out hot with power and slams, but thinks Matthews will survive the early onslaught and take over later. He is waiting for the odds to drop and will bet if the line is favorable.

waiting for odds, will bet if under -500
"I do think Jake is going to win this fight because despite the horror show that his last fight was he actually is incredibly tough."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Big Brady picks Jake Matthews to win by second-round submission. He acknowledges Flowers' explosiveness and power but questions his cardio, especially on short notice at elevation. He expects Matthews to weather an early storm, then take over as Flowers tires, securing a submission in the second round. He notes Flowers has been submitted four times before.

second round submission
"I think Jake Matthews takes down Darius flowers in the second round and Subs them"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Darrius Flowers

Cody picks Flowers as a dog, noting Matthews' inconsistency and poor performances as a favorite, especially outside Australia. He mentions Matthews' chin issues and lack of submission wins. Flowers has power and a willingness to engage. However, he admits he may not have the courage to bet it.

"I'll pick Darius flowers I don't know if I'm gonna have the cajones to uh to actually put money down on it though"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jul 25, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Darrius Flowers

James is leaning toward Flowers due to the wide line, as Matthews is a heavy favorite despite being hittable and having been hurt in his last fight. He acknowledges he hasn't done full tape on Flowers but sees power and takedown upside. He feels the line should be much closer and that Flowers offers value as a dog.

"I definitely lean in more to the Darius flowers side just because of the insane line"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 24, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jake Matthews

Matthews has way more experience against higher level competition. He should be able to overcome Flowers' power and jiu-jitsu with his own grappling and striking. Matthews needs to be strict with his striking defense and open up takedown opportunities. I'm taking Matthews by decision.

"I'm gonna take Jake Matthews here anything and I think he wins via decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 26, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Darrius Flowers

Paul also leans Flowers, echoing Matthews' struggles outside Australia and his shaky chin. He notes Flowers' boxing background and ability to land a big shot. He acknowledges Flowers' grappling deficiencies but believes Matthews may not exploit them. He calls it a decent underdog shot.

"you can't fault anybody really this is a this is a decent enough Underdog shot"
Bojan Veličković - Fight History
LOSS vs Jake Matthews
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura · Nov 19, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jake Matthews 0 20 of 34 58% 50 of 69 4 of 11 36% 0 1 7:05
Bojan Veličković 0 24 of 48 50% 113 of 163 1 of 1 100% 1 2 4:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jake Matthews 0 0 of 3 0% 6 of 12 2 of 7 28% 0 0 4:32
Bojan Veličković 0 8 of 12 66% 59 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jake Matthews 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:10
Bojan Veličković 0 10 of 25 40% 29 of 50 0 of 0 --- 1 1 2:44
3 Jake Matthews 0 12 of 14 85% 36 of 40 2 of 2 100% 0 1 2:23
Bojan Veličković 0 6 of 11 54% 25 of 40 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:52
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jake Matthews 20 of 34 58% 18 of 31 1 of 2 1 of 1 11 of 25 1 of 1 8 of 8
Bojan Veličković 24 of 48 50% 20 of 41 2 of 4 2 of 3 9 of 28 9 of 13 6 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jake Matthews 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 8 of 12 66% 7 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 7 of 9 1 of 1
2 Jake Matthews 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 7 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 10 of 25 40% 9 of 21 1 of 3 0 of 1 5 of 17 2 of 4 3 of 4
3 Jake Matthews 12 of 14 85% 10 of 11 1 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 6 0 of 0 8 of 8
Bojan Veličković 6 of 11 54% 4 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jake Matthews vs. Bojan Velickovic

Round 1
Matthews latches on to a single-leg in the first 30 seconds and runs Velickovic against the fence, working for an early takedown. Velickovic defends the shot and makes Matthews pay with some elbows to the side of the head. Matthews switches to a double but gets underhooked by Velickovic, breaking up the shot. Back to the single goes Matthews, who is still absorbing some hard elbows to the side of the head as he digs for the takedown. Halfway through the round, Matthews still has Velickovic pinned to the fence, alternating between a single- and double-leg, and occasionally an underhook. Velickovic just keeps his base wide up against the fence while punishing "The Celtic Kid" with elbows and punches. Matthews finally completes his takedown with 70 seconds on the clock, tries to mount but has to bail when Velickovic threatens with a heel hook. Velickovic catches the standing Matthews with a thudding upkick that lands heel-to-face. Velickovic gets back to his feet in the final seconds and finishes the round defending another Matthews shot.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Velickovic
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Velickovic
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Velickovic

Round 2
Velickovic catches the incoming Matthews with a switch knee, and when "The Celtic Kid" comes shooting in again, Velickovic is waiting with a guillotine. Velickovic rolls Matthews to the ground and tries to finish the one-armed guillotine from full mount, but Matthews pops his head out of the dangerous spot. Velickovic is still in mount, however, and now Matthews rolls over, giving up his back to the larger man. Velickovic has both hooks in and more than three minutes left to work in the dominant position. He pulls Matthews backward and begins working for a rear-naked choke, but Matthews uses two-on-one hand fighting to disrupt the sub attempt. Matthews shakes one hook, and Velickovic seems to consider a twister before climbing on Matthews' back again. Suddenly, Matthews escapes out the back door, and now the fighters scramble back to their feet with just over a minute to go in the round. Matthews comes over the top with a right hand that slows down Velickovic's attacks, and the Aussie adds a left hook in the closing seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Velickovic
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Velickovic
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Velickovic

Round 3
Matthews ups his aggression at the start of the final frame, charging forward with overhand rights for Velickovic, who answers with a leg kick. Matthews hits a powerful double-leg in the center of the cage and lands in Velickovic's guard, trying to establish position as Velickovic lands open-palm strike to the sides of the Aussie's head. Velickovic escapes to his feet and hits a double-leg of his own, this time at the base of the fence. "Serbian Steel" attaches himself to Matthews' back and stays locked on with both hooks in as Matthews powers up to his feet. Matthews kicks up his right leg, shakes one of Velickovic's hooks and sends the Elevation Fight Team member tumbling over the top. Now it's Matthews in top position with 90 seconds left to fight. He throws short left hands from Velickovic's half guard until Velickovic gets hold of the left arm and sits up to threaten with a kimura. Velickovic goes to his knees, tries to shake Matthews off his back in the same manner Matthews did to him, but Matthews stays locked on. Velickovic creates another scramble, and this time he comes out on top. Matthews sweeps right back, though, and it's the Aussie who finishes the fight on top.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Velickovic)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Velickovic)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Matthews (29-28 Velickovic)

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Bojan Velickovic via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00
LOSS vs Darren Till
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve · Sep 02, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Darren Till 0 49 of 87 56% 50 of 88 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:51
Bojan Veličković 0 34 of 144 23% 69 of 181 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Darren Till 0 20 of 30 66% 20 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Bojan Veličković 0 10 of 35 28% 10 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Darren Till 0 11 of 22 50% 11 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:47
Bojan Veličković 0 11 of 41 26% 29 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Darren Till 0 18 of 35 51% 19 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Bojan Veličković 0 13 of 68 19% 30 of 85 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Darren Till 49 of 87 56% 42 of 79 1 of 1 6 of 7 32 of 67 1 of 1 16 of 19
Bojan Veličković 34 of 144 23% 16 of 109 2 of 7 16 of 28 32 of 141 0 of 1 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Darren Till 20 of 30 66% 16 of 25 0 of 0 4 of 5 10 of 20 1 of 1 9 of 9
Bojan Veličković 10 of 35 28% 2 of 22 1 of 2 7 of 11 10 of 34 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Darren Till 11 of 22 50% 10 of 21 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 19 0 of 0 3 of 3
Bojan Veličković 11 of 41 26% 5 of 31 0 of 1 6 of 9 9 of 39 0 of 0 2 of 2
3 Darren Till 18 of 35 51% 16 of 33 1 of 1 1 of 1 14 of 28 0 of 0 4 of 7
Bojan Veličković 13 of 68 19% 9 of 56 1 of 4 3 of 8 13 of 68 0 of 0 0 of 0
TKO (punches) R3 4:37 · UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira · May 28, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bojan Veličković 0 49 of 173 28% 69 of 195 1 of 5 20% 0 0 3:08
Nicholas Musoke 1 53 of 123 43% 107 of 179 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:28
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bojan Veličković 0 11 of 36 30% 19 of 45 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:51
Nicholas Musoke 0 9 of 22 40% 42 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:07
2 Bojan Veličković 0 18 of 73 24% 26 of 82 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:32
Nicholas Musoke 0 19 of 47 40% 32 of 62 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:14
3 Bojan Veličković 0 20 of 64 31% 24 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:45
Nicholas Musoke 1 25 of 54 46% 33 of 62 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bojan Veličković 49 of 173 28% 41 of 164 5 of 5 3 of 4 43 of 166 3 of 3 3 of 4
Nicholas Musoke 53 of 123 43% 37 of 104 3 of 3 13 of 16 50 of 118 2 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bojan Veličković 11 of 36 30% 9 of 34 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 32 0 of 0 3 of 4
Nicholas Musoke 9 of 22 40% 5 of 16 1 of 1 3 of 5 9 of 21 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Bojan Veličković 18 of 73 24% 14 of 68 2 of 2 2 of 3 15 of 70 3 of 3 0 of 0
Nicholas Musoke 19 of 47 40% 10 of 38 2 of 2 7 of 7 19 of 46 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Bojan Veličković 20 of 64 31% 18 of 62 1 of 1 1 of 1 20 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Nicholas Musoke 25 of 54 46% 22 of 50 0 of 0 3 of 4 22 of 51 2 of 2 1 of 1
LOSS vs Sultan Aliev
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson · Dec 17, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sultan Aliev 0 22 of 53 41% 126 of 160 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:24
Bojan Veličković 0 15 of 26 57% 86 of 105 2 of 3 66% 0 1 9:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sultan Aliev 0 14 of 25 56% 36 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bojan Veličković 0 5 of 10 50% 12 of 18 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:01
2 Sultan Aliev 0 4 of 17 23% 46 of 61 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Bojan Veličković 0 6 of 9 66% 29 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:33
3 Sultan Aliev 0 4 of 11 36% 44 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:24
Bojan Veličković 0 4 of 7 57% 45 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 1 3:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sultan Aliev 22 of 53 41% 1 of 21 9 of 17 12 of 15 17 of 48 4 of 4 1 of 1
Bojan Veličković 15 of 26 57% 14 of 25 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 12 2 of 4 9 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sultan Aliev 14 of 25 56% 0 of 7 5 of 9 9 of 9 12 of 23 2 of 2 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 5 of 10 50% 4 of 9 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 6 2 of 3 1 of 1
2 Sultan Aliev 4 of 17 23% 1 of 8 2 of 5 1 of 4 3 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 1
Bojan Veličković 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 4
3 Sultan Aliev 4 of 11 36% 0 of 6 2 of 3 2 of 2 2 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 4 of 7 57% 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 5
LOSS vs Michael Graves
Draw (majority) (30–27, 28–28, 28–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley · Jul 30, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Graves 0 9 of 20 45% 27 of 40 3 of 6 50% 0 0 7:04
Bojan Veličković 0 17 of 57 29% 60 of 107 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Graves 0 6 of 11 54% 7 of 12 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:13
Bojan Veličković 0 10 of 26 38% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:37
2 Michael Graves 0 3 of 5 60% 17 of 21 2 of 2 100% 0 0 4:34
Bojan Veličković 0 1 of 2 50% 12 of 14 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
3 Michael Graves 0 0 of 4 0% 3 of 7 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:17
Bojan Veličković 0 6 of 29 20% 26 of 53 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:42
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Graves 9 of 20 45% 4 of 14 3 of 4 2 of 2 5 of 15 1 of 1 3 of 4
Bojan Veličković 17 of 57 29% 3 of 31 4 of 6 10 of 20 15 of 53 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Graves 6 of 11 54% 1 of 6 3 of 3 2 of 2 5 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 10 of 26 38% 2 of 12 1 of 3 7 of 11 9 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Michael Graves 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4
Bojan Veličković 1 of 2 50% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Graves 0 of 4 0% 0 of 3 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bojan Veličković 6 of 29 20% 1 of 19 3 of 3 2 of 7 5 of 26 1 of 3 0 of 0
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos · Apr 10, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bojan Veličković 0 65 of 148 43% 78 of 161 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:27
Alessio Di Chirico 0 45 of 135 33% 56 of 148 1 of 5 20% 1 1 0:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bojan Veličković 0 22 of 55 40% 22 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alessio Di Chirico 0 20 of 49 40% 20 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Bojan Veličković 0 20 of 46 43% 26 of 52 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:06
Alessio Di Chirico 0 12 of 44 27% 21 of 54 1 of 1 100% 1 1 0:42
3 Bojan Veličković 0 23 of 47 48% 30 of 54 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:21
Alessio Di Chirico 0 13 of 42 30% 15 of 45 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bojan Veličković 65 of 148 43% 40 of 111 16 of 25 9 of 12 61 of 142 2 of 3 2 of 3
Alessio Di Chirico 45 of 135 33% 16 of 89 9 of 17 20 of 29 43 of 131 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bojan Veličković 22 of 55 40% 11 of 35 6 of 13 5 of 7 22 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alessio Di Chirico 20 of 49 40% 6 of 32 3 of 5 11 of 12 20 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Bojan Veličković 20 of 46 43% 14 of 39 5 of 5 1 of 2 20 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alessio Di Chirico 12 of 44 27% 4 of 32 1 of 3 7 of 9 12 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Bojan Veličković 23 of 47 48% 15 of 37 5 of 7 3 of 3 19 of 41 2 of 3 2 of 3
Alessio Di Chirico 13 of 42 30% 6 of 25 5 of 9 2 of 8 11 of 38 2 of 4 0 of 0