Jake Matthews

Jake Matthews (born 19 August 1994) is an Australian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Welterweight division.

Background Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Matthews played Australian football for nine years in his youth, representing the Northern Knights for a season. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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. Matthews defeated Johnson via submission in the third round.

For his second fight with the promotion, Matthews faced Vagner Rocha on 8 November 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55. Matthews won the fight via second round submission.

2015 Matthews faced James Vick on 10 May 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Matthews was expected to face Mickael Lebout on 18 July 2015 at UFC Fight Night 72. However, Matthews pulled out of the fight on 9 July citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Teemu Packalen.

Matthews faced Akbarh Arreola on 15 November 2015 at UFC 193. 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.

2016 Matthews faced Johnny Case on 20 March 2016 at UFC Fight Night 85. He won the bout via submission in the third round. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night.

Matthews was expected to face Stevie Ray on 8 July 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. However, Ray pulled out of the fight on 2 June citing alleged visa issues and was replaced by Kevin Lee. Lee won via TKO in the first round.

Matthews next faced Andrew Holbrook on 27 November 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101. He lost the fight via split decision.

2017 Matthews faced Bojan Veličković in a welterweight bout on 19 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night 121. He won the fight via split decision.

2018 Matthews faced Li Jingliang on 11 February 2018 at UFC 221. where he won via unanimous decision. This win earned him the Fight of the Night bonus. Jingliang later faced criticism for eye gouging Matthews whilst trying to escape a submission attempt.

Matthews faced Shinsho Anzai on 23 June 2018 at UFC Fight Night 132. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the first round.

Matthews faced Anthony Rocco Martin on 2 December 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142. He lost the fight via an anaconda choke in round three.

2019 Matthews faced Rostem Akman on 6 October 2019 at UFC 243. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

2020 Matthews faced Emil Weber Meek on 23 February 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Matthews faced Diego Sanchez on 27 September 2020 at UFC 253. Matthews won the fight via unanimous decision.

2021 Matthews faced Sean Brady on 6 March 2021 at UFC 259. He lost the fight via an arm triangle choke in round three.

Matthews was scheduled to face Jeremiah Wells on 4 December 2021 at UFC on ESPN 31. However, just hours before the event the bout was cancelled after one of Wells‘s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19.

2022 Matthews faced André Fialho on 11 June 2022, at UFC 275. He won the bout via knockout in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Matthews faced Matthew Semelsberger on 17 December 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

2023

Matthews was next expected to face Gabe Green on 13 May 2023 at UFC on ABC 4. However, Matthews withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Bryan Battle.

Matthews was scheduled to face Miguel Baeza at UFC 291 on 29 July 2023. However on 19 July Baeza pulled out due to an undisclosed reason. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrius Flowers. Matthews won the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Matthews faced Michael Morales on 18 November 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

2024

Matthews faced Philip Rowe on 1 June 2024, at UFC 302. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

2025 Matthews faced Francisco Prado on 9 February 2025, at UFC 312. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Matthews faced Chidi Njokuani at UFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville, Tennessee on 12 July 2025. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Matthews faced Neil Magny on 28 September 2025 at UFC Fight Night 260. After winning the first two rounds, he lost the fight via a brabo choke in round three.

2026 Matthews was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on 30 May 2026 at UFC Fight Night 277. However, Salikhov withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Carlston Harris. Matthews won the fight by unanimous decision.

Personal life Matthews has a daughter who was born on 5 January 2019. In 2023 it was revealed that Matthews had converted to Islam. He told Code Sports: "I was pretty well aligned with the ethics and morals of Islam for many years, it was a natural progression."

Mixed martial arts record Win

Carlston Harris Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo

Macau SAR, China Loss

Neil Magny Submission (brabo choke) UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes

Perth, Australia Win

Chidi Njokuani Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Francisco Prado Decision (unanimous) UFC 312

Sydney, Australia Win

Philip Rowe Decision (unanimous) UFC 302

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Michael Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darrius Flowers Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 291

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Matthew Semelsberger Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

André Fialho KO (punches) UFC 275

Kallang, Singapore Loss

Sean Brady Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 259

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Diego Sanchez Decision (unanimous) UFC 253

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Emil Weber Meek Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker

Auckland, New Zealand Win

Rostem Akman Decision (unanimous) UFC 243

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Anthony Rocco Martin Technical Submission (anaconda choke) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa

Adelaide, Australia Win

Shinsho Anzai Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards

Kallang, Singapore Win

Li Jingliang Decision (unanimous) UFC 221

Perth, Australia Win

Bojan Veličković Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura

Sydney, Australia Loss

Andrew Holbrook Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Kevin Lee TKO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Johnny Case Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir

Brisbane, Australia Win

Akbarh Arreola TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 193

Melbourne, Australia Loss

James Vick Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt

Adelaide, Australia Win

Vagner Rocha Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping

Sydney, Australia Win

Dashon Johnson Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt

Auckland, New Zealand Win

Stuart Dare Decision (unanimous) Shamrock Events: Kings of Combat 12

Dandenong, Australia Win

Dean Purdon Submission (rear-naked choke) Australian FC 6

Melbourne, Australia | Win

Tadija Majic TKO (punches) Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 7

Dandenong, Australia Win

Luke Jumeau Submission (rear-naked choke) Australian FC 5

Melbourne, Australia | Win

Callan Potter Submission (triangle choke) Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 6

Keysborough, Australia Win

Jason Zivkovic TKO (punches) Shamrock Events: Kings of Kombat 8

Melbourne, Australia Win

Sam Fiamatai TKO (punches) Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 5

Dandenong, Australia Loss

Olivier Aubin-Mercier Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia 27 February 2014 (airdate)

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada