| Jake Matthews | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Matthews in 2017 | |
| Born | (1994-08-19)19 August 1994 (age 31) 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 inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos "Português" Vieira[5] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 30 |
| Wins | 22 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 9 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Jake Matthews (born 19 August 1994) is an Australianmixed martial artist currently competing in theUltimate Fighting Championship's Welterweight division.
Born and raised inMelbourne, Australia, Matthews playedAustralian football for nine years in his youth, representing theNorthern Knights for a season.[6] To keep fit in the offseason, he 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.[7]
Matthews made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 18 in September 2012 competing for regional promotions in theGreater Melbourne area where he compiled a record of 7–0 prior to joining the UFC.[8]
In December 2013, it was announced that Matthews would be a cast member onThe Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia, representing Australia at welterweight.[9] Matthews went on to lose his opening fight in the tournament, dropping a unanimous decision to eventual finalistOlivier Aubin-Mercier and was subsequently eliminated from the show.[10]
After winning a fight after his stint onTUF, Matthews made his official UFC debut on 28 June 2014 atUFC Fight Night 43, where he faced promotional newcomerDashon Johnson in a lightweight bout.[11] Matthews defeated Johnson via submission in the third round.[12]
For his second fight with the promotion, Matthews facedVagner Rocha on 8 November 2014 atUFC Fight Night 55.[13] Matthews won the fight via second round submission.[14]
Matthews facedJames Vick on 10 May 2015 atUFC Fight Night 65.[15] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.[16]
Matthews was expected to faceMickael Lebout on 18 July 2015 atUFC Fight Night 72.[17] However, Matthews pulled out of the fight on 9 July citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomerTeemu Packalen.[18]
Matthews facedAkbarh Arreola on 15 November 2015 atUFC 193.[19] 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.[20]
Matthews facedJohnny Case on 20 March 2016 atUFC Fight Night 85.[21] He won the bout via submission in the third round.[22] Both participants were awardedFight of the Night.[23]
Matthews was expected to faceStevie Ray on 8 July 2016 atThe Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale.[24] However, Ray pulled out of the fight on 2 June citing allegedvisa issues and was replaced byKevin Lee.[25] Lee won via TKO in the first round.[26]
Matthews next facedAndrew Holbrook on 27 November 2016 atUFC Fight Night 101.[27] He lost the fight via split decision.[28]
Matthews facedBojan Veličković in a welterweight bout on 19 November 2017 atUFC Fight Night 121.[29] He won the fight via split decision.[30]
Matthews facedLi Jingliang on 11 February 2018 atUFC 221.[31] where he won via unanimous decision.[32] This win earned him theFight of the Night bonus.[33] Jingliang later faced criticism for eye gouging Matthews whilst trying to escape a submission attempt.[34]
Matthews facedShinsho Anzai on 23 June 2018 atUFC Fight Night 132.[35] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the first round.[36]
Matthews facedAnthony Rocco Martin on 2 December 2018 atUFC Fight Night 142.[37] He lost the fight via an anaconda choke in round three.[38]
Matthews faced Rostem Akman on 6 October 2019 atUFC 243.[39] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[40]
Matthews facedEmil Weber Meek on 23 February 2020 atUFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker.[41] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]
Matthews facedDiego Sanchez on 27 September 2020 atUFC 253.[43] Matthews won the fight via unanimous decision.[44][45]
Matthews facedSean Brady on 6 March 2021 atUFC 259.[46] He lost the fight via an arm triangle choke in round three.[47]
Matthews was scheduled to faceJeremiah Wells on 4 December 2021 atUFC on ESPN 31.[48] However, just hours before the event the bout was cancelled after one of Wells‘s cornermentested positive for COVID-19.[49]
Matthews facedAndré Fialho on 11 June 2022, atUFC 275.[50] He won the bout via knockout in the second round.[51] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[52]
Matthews facedMatthew Semelsberger on 17 December 2022 atUFC Fight Night 216.[53] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[54]
Matthews was next expected to faceGabe Green on 13 May 2023 atUFC on ABC 4.[55] However, Matthews withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced byBryan Battle.[56]
Matthews was scheduled to faceMiguel Baeza atUFC 291 on 29 July 2023.[57] However on 19 July Baeza pulled out due to an undisclosed reason.[58] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrius Flowers.[59] Matthews won the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[60]
Matthews facedMichael Morales on 18 November 2023, atUFC Fight Night 232.[61] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[62]
Matthews facedPhilip Rowe on 1 June 2024, atUFC 302.[63] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[64]
Matthews faced Francisco Prado on 9 February 2025, atUFC 312.[65] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[66]
Matthews facedChidi Njokuani atUFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville, Tennessee on 12 July 2025.[67] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[68]
Matthews facedNeil Magny on 28 September 2025 atUFC Fight Night 260.[69] After winning the first two rounds, he lost the fight via a brabo choke in round three.[70]
Matthews has a daughter who was born on 5 January 2019.[71] In 2023 it was revealed that Matthews hadconverted to Islam.[72][73] He toldCode Sports: "I was pretty well aligned with the ethics and morals of Islam for many years, it was a natural progression."[72] "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.[72] In the same interview Matthews mentioned he was "in talks with some ofKhabib Nurmagomedov's crew about potentially training with him."[72]
| 30 matches | 22 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 1 |
| By submission | 9 | 4 |
| By decision | 8 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 22–8 | Neil Magny | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes | 28 September 2025 | 3 | 3:08 | Perth, Australia | |
| Win | 22–7 | Chidi Njokuani | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira | 12 July 2025 | 1 | 1:09 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 21–7 | Francisco Prado | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 312 | 9 February 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 20–7 | Philip Rowe | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 302 | 1 June 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 19–7 | Michael Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | 18 November 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–6 | Darrius Flowers | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 291 | 29 July 2023 | 2 | 2:37 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 18–6 | Matthew Semelsberger | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | 17 December 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | André Fialho | KO (punches) | UFC 275 | 11 June 2022 | 2 | 2:24 | Kallang, Singapore | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–5 | Sean Brady | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 259 | 6 March 2021 | 3 | 3:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Diego Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 253 | 27 September 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 16–4 | Emil Weber Meek | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker | 23 February 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 15–4 | Rostem Akman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 243 | 6 October 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Anthony Rocco Martin | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | 2 December 2018 | 3 | 1:19 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 14–3 | Shinsho Anzai | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards | 23 June 2018 | 1 | 3:44 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 13–3 | Li Jingliang | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 221 | 11 February 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Perth, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–3 | Bojan Veličković | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura | 19 November 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Andrew Holbrook | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | 27 November 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 11–2 | Kevin Lee | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | 8 July 2016 | 1 | 4:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Johnny Case | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir | 20 March 2016 | 3 | 4:45 | Brisbane, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Akbarh Arreola | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 193 | 15 November 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Loss | 9–1 | James Vick | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt | 10 May 2015 | 1 | 4:53 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 9–0 | Vagner Rocha | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping | 8 November 2014 | 2 | 1:52 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 8–0 | Dashon Johnson | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt | 28 June 2014 | 3 | 3:16 | Auckland, New Zealand | Lightweight debut. Johnson was deducted one point in round 2 due to strikes to the back of the head. |
| Win | 7–0 | Stuart Dare | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock Events: Kings of Combat 12 | 26 April 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Dandenong, Australia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Dean Purdon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Australian FC 6 | 24 August 2013 | 2 | 2:42 | Melbourne, Australia | Australian FC Welterweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 5–0 | Tadija Majic | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 7 | 22 June 2013 | 1 | 2:25 | Dandenong, Australia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Luke Jumeau | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Australian FC 5 | 10 May 2013 | 2 | 1:14 | Melbourne, Australia | Australian FC Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | Callan Potter | Submission (triangle choke) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 6 | 16 March 2013 | 1 | 1:42 | Keysborough, Australia | Won the vacant FXP Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Jason Zivkovic | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Kings of Kombat 8 | 8 December 2012 | 1 | 0:23 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sam Fiamatai | TKO (punches) | Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 5 | 15 September 2012 | 2 | 1:47 | Dandenong, 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. |