Jake Aaron Matthews[6] (born 19 August 1994) is an Australian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Welterweight division.
| Jake Matthews | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Matthews in 2017 | |
| Born | Jake Aaron Matthews 19 August 1994 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Other names | The Celtic Kid |
| Residence | Epping, Victoria, Australia |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
| Division | Lightweight (2014–2017) Welterweight (2012–2014, 2017–present) |
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Epping, Victoria, Australia |
| Team | XLR8 Training Centre (2016–present)[3] Resilience Training Centre[4] |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos "Português" Vieira[5] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 26 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Matthews played Australian football for nine years in his youth, representing Northern Knights for a season.[7] To keep fit in the offseason, began training in mixed martial arts out of a shed in the backyard of his parents' house, sparring with his younger brother and being coached by his father.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Matthews made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 18 in September 2012 competing for regional promotions in the Greater Melbourne area where he compiled a record of 7–0 prior to joining the UFC.[9]
The Ultimate Fighter: Nations
In December 2013, it was announced that Matthews would be a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia, representing Australia at welterweight.[10] Matthews went on to lose his opening fight in the tournament, dropping a unanimous decision to eventual finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier and was subsequently eliminated from the show.[11]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2014
After winning a fight after his stint on TUF, Matthews made his official UFC debut on 28 June 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43, where he faced promotional newcomer Dashon Johnson in a lightweight bout.[12] Matthews defeated Johnson via submission in the third round.[13]
For his second fight with the promotion, Matthews faced Vagner Rocha on 8 November 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55.[14] Matthews won the fight via second round submission.[15]
2015
Matthews faced James Vick on 10 May 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65.[16] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.[17]
Matthews was expected to face Mickael Lebout on 18 July 2015 at UFC Fight Night 72.[18] However, Matthews pulled out of the fight on 9 July citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Teemu Packalen.[19]
Matthews faced Akbarh Arreola on 15 November 2015 at UFC 193.[20] Matthews won via doctor stoppage between rounds 2 and 3, after scoring a takedown early in the second round and inflicting severe damage to Arreola's right eye with punches and elbows.[21]
2016
Matthews faced Johnny Case on 20 March 2016 at UFC Fight Night 85.[22] He won the bout via submission in the third round.[23] Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night.[24]
Matthews was expected to face Stevie Ray on 8 July 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale.[25] However, Ray pulled out of the fight on 2 June citing alleged visa issues and was replaced by Kevin Lee.[26] Lee won via TKO in the first round.[27]
Matthews next faced Andrew Holbrook on 27 November 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101.[28] He lost the fight via split decision.[29]
2017
Matthews faced Bojan Veličković in a welterweight bout on 19 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night 121.[30] He won the fight via split decision.[31]
2018
Matthews faced Li Jingliang on 11 February 2018 at UFC 221.[32] where he won via unanimous decision.[33] This win earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.[34] Jingliang later faced criticism for eye gouging Matthews whilst trying to escape a submission attempt.[35]
Matthews faced Shinsho Anzai on 23 June 2018 at UFC Fight Night 132.[36] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the first round.[37]
Matthews faced Anthony Rocco Martin on 2 December 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142.[38] He lost the fight via an anaconda choke in round three.[39]
2019
Matthews faced Rostem Akman on 6 October 2019 at UFC 243.[40] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[41]
2020
Matthews faced Emil Weber Meek on 23 February 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker.[42] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[43]
Matthews faced Diego Sanchez on 27 September 2020 at UFC 253.[44] Matthews won the fight via unanimous decision.[45][46]
2021
Matthews faced Sean Brady on 6 March 2021 at UFC 259.[47] He lost the fight via an arm triangle choke in round three.[48]
Matthews was scheduled to face Jeremiah Wells on 4 December 2021 at UFC on ESPN 31.[49] However, just hours before the event the bout was cancelled after one of Wells‘s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19.[50]
2022
Matthews faced André Fialho on 11 June 2022, at UFC 275.[51] He won the bout via knockout in the second round.[52] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[53]
Matthews faced Matthew Semelsberger on 17 December 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216.[54] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
2023
Matthews was next expected to face Gabe Green on 13 May 2023 at UFC on ABC 4.[56] However, Matthews withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Bryan Battle.[57]
Matthews was scheduled to face Miguel Baeza at UFC 291 on 29 July 2023.[58] However on 19 July Baeza pulled out due to an undisclosed reason.[59] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrius Flowers.[60] Matthews won the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[61]
Matthews faced Michael Morales on 18 November 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232.[62] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[63]
2024
Matthews is scheduled to face Philip Rowe on 1 June 2024, at UFC 302.[64]
Personal life
Matthews has a daughter who was born on 5 January 2019.[65] In 2023 it was revealed that Matthews had converted to Islam.[66][67] He told Code Sports: “I was pretty well aligned with the ethics and morals of Islam for many years, it was a natural progression.”[66] “I told my mates this is what I wanted to do, and they didn't realise I was one hundred percent serious, but they didn't know I was on a journey of learning about it for over a year and a half,” Matthews added.[66] In the same interview Matthews mentioned he was “in talks with some of Khabib Nurmagomedov's crew about potentially training with him.”[66]
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Two times) vs Johnny Case and Li Jingliang[34][24]
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. André Fialho[53]
Mixed martial arts record
| 26 matches | 19 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 1 |
| By submission | 8 | 3 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–7 | Michael Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | November 18, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–6 | Darrius Flowers | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 291 | July 29, 2023 | 2 | 2:37 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 18–6 | Matthew Semelsberger | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | André Fialho | KO (punches) | UFC 275 | June 11, 2022 | 2 | 2:24 | Kallang, Singapore | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–5 | Sean Brady | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 259 | March 6, 2021 | 3 | 3:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Diego Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 253 | September 27, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 16–4 | Emil Weber Meek | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker | February 23, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 15–4 | Rostem Akman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 243 | October 6, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Anthony Rocco Martin | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | December 2, 2018 | 3 | 1:19 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 14–3 | Shinsho Anzai | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards | June 23, 2018 | 1 | 3:44 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 13–3 | Li Jingliang | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 221 | February 11, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Perth, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–3 | Bojan Veličković | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura | November 19, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Andrew Holbrook | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | November 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 11–2 | Kevin Lee | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | July 8, 2016 | 1 | 4:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Johnny Case | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir | March 20, 2016 | 3 | 4:45 | Brisbane, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Akbarh Arreola | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 193 | November 15, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 9–1 | James Vick | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt | May 10, 2015 | 1 | 4:53 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 9–0 | Vagner Rocha | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping | November 8, 2014 | 2 | 1:52 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 8–0 | Dashon Johnson | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt | June 28, 2014 | 3 | 3:16 | Auckland, New Zealand | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 7–0 | Stuart Dare | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock Events: Kings of Combat 12 | April 26, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Dean Purdon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Australian Fighting Championships 6 | August 24, 2013 | 2 | 2:42 | Melbourne, Australia | AFC Welterweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 5–0 | Tadija Majic | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 7 | June 22, 2013 | 1 | 2:25 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Luke Jumeau | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Australian Fighting Championships 5 | May 10, 2013 | 2 | 1:14 | Melbourne, Australia | AFC Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | Callan Potter | Submission (triangle choke) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 6 | March 16, 2013 | 1 | 1:42 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the vacant FXP Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Jason Zivkovic | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Kings of Kombat 8 | December 8, 2012 | 1 | 0:23 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sam Fiamatai | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 5 | September 15, 2012 | 2 | 1:47 | Melbourne, Australia | Welterweight debut. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Olivier Aubin-Mercier | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia | 27 February 2014 (airdate) | 2 | 5:00 | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada | Quarter-finals. |