Rostem Akman

Jake Matthews vs. Rostem Akman

Round 1
Remaining at welterweight for the preliminary headliner, Matthews (14-4, 7-4 UFC) looks to win another for Australia as he faces off against once-beaten and exceptionally hirsute Akman (6-1, 0-1 UFC). Assigned to this fight is referee Greg Kleynjans. As the fight begins, Akman immediately presses forward, but neither man lands a strike for the first 30 seconds. As Matthews circles away, he finally lands a glancing leg kick, although he sits into one that follows. Suddenly, the two clash together and both swing, and neither really connects. Akman charges forward like a bull and Matthews darts away, before throwing a head kick that is barely blocked. The Swede races forward again, and Matthews is ready to duck away. As Matthews tries to step in with a knee, Akman goes over the top with a straight left hand. Coming up short with a front kick, Akman eats a right hand and then takes a front kick from Matthews. Matthews loads up with a big right hand that hits nothing but air, and then ducks out of the way from Akman and lands two lefts. A right hand from Matthews dings off the head of his opponent, and Akman fires back with a right uppercut. Matthews charges forward and sneaks in a right hand over the top, causing Akman to lose his balance and stumble. The Swede is not hurt, but he eats two more punches while trying to defend. The tentative first round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-10
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 2
The second round begins much like the first, with Akman pressing forward but not doing much with it. A lunging right hand catches Akman on the chin, forcing the Swede to wobble again. As Matthews swings again, Akman is ready on the counter, catching Matthews with a right hand. Akman comes in with two looping hooks, but neither connect, so Matthews returns fire with a straight left that finds the jaw. The Aussie tries to set up a huge right hand following a left straight, but the right hook is well off the mark. As Akman comes in, he lands a knee on Matthews' chin as Matthews tries to connect to his opponent's body. Both men swing hard and miss, as their power shots cannot find the target. Matthews finally lands on the end of a winging left hook, but Akman shrugs it off. The Swede tries to press the action with several punches on the way in, and Matthews dodges and weaves while trying to fire back. With less than a minute to go, Matthews starts putting kicks together, faking a head kick and landing a slapping leg kick instead. Akman crashes forward once more, and Matthews sits on the counter right hand, backing off Akman again. The horn sounds as Matthews swings violently, but does not connect with anything of note.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Matthews
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Matthews

Round 3
With two rounds in the books, the two men touch gloves as the final round begins. Matthews wades forward while preemptively ducking any counters, but none come his way. Akman steps in to try to land a combination, and like many times throughout the fight, Matthews tries to counter with a right hand. The Aussie digs a right to the body and left to the head, and Akman ignores it and moves forward. The two swing their way and almost clinch up, before Matthews tries to sting Akman with a check knee. Matthews tries to chain together a combination and Akman ducks, but he takes a right at the end. As Akman leads in, he is prepared to evade the predictable counter right hand that will -- and does -- come from Matthews, and while ducked down, Matthews grabs hold of his opponent's back. Unable to capitalize on this position, the two separate, and Akman tries to walk his adversary down but does not land anything of note. While the Swede is advancing, he is not landing many if any strikes. Matthews swings wildly, forcing Akman to dodge the attack, and Matthews tries to grab hold of Akman again. With ten seconds left, Akman pulls for a guillotine, but it is not close as the final horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-27 Matthews)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-28 Matthews)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Matthews (30-27 Matthews)

The Official Result
Jake Matthews def. Rostem Akman via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)