Jake Matthews, one of Australia’s most exciting fighters, makes the walk for his 19th UFC fight in nine years. Matthews joined as one of the youngest fighters in the promotions’ history at 22, and has been steadily climbing his way to contender status at 170 pounds.
The Aussie has been around the big show for quite some time, and he has an opportunity to pick up momentum.His win at UFC 291 was the perfect start. A win here would give him his first winning streak in over three years. In his last four fights, he defeated Diego Sanchez, following it by losing to Sean Brady, beating Andre Fialho, losing a close decision to Matthew Semelsberger, and beating Darrius Flowers.
Jake Matthews: A “Kid” No More
The 29-year-old has been in the UFC for almost a decade, and has grown up during his time in the promotion. His first bout was an exhibition in the Ultimate Fighter: Nations tournament. He squared off against eventual PFL champion and “Canadian Gangster” Olivier Aubin-Mercier. He lost by unanimous decision, but returned to the promotion to face Dashon Johnson, who he defeated by third-round triangle.
As Matthews has grown, he believes he has changed into someone much more mature. He realizes that he hasn’t always put on the best performances, but thinks that he has begun to trend in the right direction after his fight with Andrew Fialho. He dropped his next fight against Semmelsberger, but before that, he exhibited a brand new mindset.
Matthews was on the back of a three-fight win streak before his loss to Sean Brady. It changed him as a man, he said. He has embraced the grind and has fully bought in to his own skill sets.
“I want everyone to believe that (I’m the best striker), I want everyone to think that way, that I’m the best striker in the UFC. I 100 per cent believe it. If I do that, the world title will come along the way,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation before the Semmelsberger fight.
He was on his way to prove that, as he controlled the fight apart from the knockdowns in each round. All three came on counter shots- it wasn’t Matthews’ night. He bounced back from that with an impressive submission win over Darrius Flowers, and those close to him see it as the start of a journey to the top. He put his life away from the Octagon in order, even converting to Islam after previously embracing some tenets of the religion.
Referring to his losses to Sean Brady and Anthony Rocco Martin, “You take losses so hard. I know I took them really hard. But they’re the best things that can happen to you.”
Matthews chooses to embrace his career with a maturity not seen in many fighters, and it is paying dividends so far. He has never missed weight in the UFC, and has found the right weight class at 170 pounds for his frame.
He faces one of the toughest opponents of his career in undefeated prospect Michael Morales. Matthews squares up against an undefeated Ecuadorian who sports finishes over Adam Fuggitt and Trevin Giles. As such, the Aussie wants to prove to the masses that he has been hiding a crucial facet of his game for some time and announce his arrival to the rankings.
Matthews will have every chance to prove that he has the striking skill to put everyone on notice. For most of his career, Matthews has been regarded as a fantastic grappler by the division. The stats back him up, as Matthews has five submission wins to his credit.
Jake Matthews’ Path to Victory
Matthews seems to have conquered the mental game. Next comes the fights: he faces a tough test ahead of him if he wants to return to form. His opponent is extremely well-rounded for such a young fighter who only has three fights in the UFC.
Michael Morales has solid grappling, but the 23-year-old has no intention of going near than the mat. He has some of the best scrambles in the division, which poses a huge problem for Matthews. Even if the Australian does find himself in a fairly advantageous situation, Morales can flip it on its head. He can start raining down heavy shots, or land a blow to put Matthews out on the feet.
On the ground, body locks and wrist locks are imperative for Matthews. Controlling and isolating movements of his opponent allows him to manage the flow of the grappling and prevent Morales from scrambling. He has to make the fight uncomfortable for Morales. Leaning on that Octagon experience is an intangible Matthews looks to take advantage of, as well.
Matthews has to mix it up, going from dirty boxing to shots at range. However, he has to be incredibly careful of Morales’ ability to turn the fight on a dime. He must dictate the pace of the fight, and he is a strong grappler. He could manage to get the fight to the ground, and it’s Matthews’ world from there.
What Could Be Next for the Aussie?
Jake Matthews was on the cusp of a top-15 ranking when he lost to Sean Brady, and a reasonable observer would see that is where he is headed next. A fight against number-twelve-ranked Kevin Holland makes a lot of sense, at least on paper. Both men are veterans of the division, and have to find their momentum to propel themselves into the top 10. Their styles counteract each other, and that fight would come down to who has improved the most in their non-dominant area: Holland’s grappling or Matthews’ striking.
Stacking him up against fellow countryman Jack Della Maddalena could provide some interesting fodder for a pay-per-view card. It also works as a fight night main event, as both of these men have huge potential.
Matthews is not currently ranked at 170 pounds. As such, he needs at least three more fights before he secures a title shot. However, if the division moves with some pace, he could see a number-one-contender fight beginning in 2025.
However, he would most likely have to fight Gilbert Burns or Stephen Thompson, two of the only ranked fighters that are not currently booked. Burns plays into Matthews’ style of fighting, but Thompson gives anyone fits in the standup.
If Matthews gets past Morales, his future in the division is wide open. All of these fights are extremely entertaining and serve to take him where he wants to go. It’s clear that the veteran has an exciting 2024 ahead of him.
Now, it’s all up to him. Going on a run here would mean that the “Celtic Kid” is a bona fide problem at welterweight, and anything but a kid.
Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images
