Jake Aaron Matthews (born 19 August 1994) is an Australian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

currently competing in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

's Welterweight division.

Background

Born and raised in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

, Australia, Matthews played

Australian football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

for nine years in his youth, representing

Northern Knights The Northern Knights is an Australian rules football club playing in the NAB League, the top statewide under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based in Preston, representing the northern suburban area of Melbourne. The Knight ...

for a season. 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.

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 Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metr ...

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 Olivier Aubin-Mercier (; born February 23, 1989) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League. He formerly competed for the UFC until October 2019 when he became a free agent. A p ...

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 James William Vick (born February 23, 1987) is a retired American mixed martial artist and boxer who formerly competed in the welterweight and lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Vick was a cast member of '' The ...

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 ''UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 85'') was a mixed martial arts event held on March 20, 2016, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Background The event was the second that t ...

. 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 Lash Steven Huffman (born August 22, 1958) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Stevie Ray. Stevie Ray is best known for his seven-year tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1993 to 20 ...

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 ''UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 101'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 27, 2016, at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. B ...

. 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 ''UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 121'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 19, 2017, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Background This ev ...

. He won the fight via split decision.

2018

Matthews faced Li Jingliang on 11 February 2018 at

UFC 221 ''UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on February 11, 2018, at Perth Arena in Perth, Western Australia. Background While the UFC has hosted 11 previous events ...

. 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 ''UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 132'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on June 23, 2018, at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Back ...

. 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: Felder vs. Hooker. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Matthews faced

Diego Sanchez Diego Sanchez (born December 31, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Sanchez is most known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (U ...

on 27 September 2020 at

UFC 253 ''UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 27, 2020 at the du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Background The event was or ...

. Matthews knocked down Sanchez multiple times, and won the fight via unanimous decision.

2021

Matthews faced Sean Brady on 6 March 2021 at

UFC 259 ''UFC 259: Błachowicz vs. Adesanya '' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 6, 2021 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United ...

. He lost the fight via an arm triangle choke in round three. Matthews was scheduled to face Jeremiah Wells on December 4, 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 June 11, 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 December 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Personal life

Matthews has a daughter, Alani, who was born on 5 January 2019.

Championships and accomplishments

** Fight of the Night (Two times) ** Performance of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 18–6 , Matthew Semelsberger , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...

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Kallang Kallang is a planning area and residential town located in the Central Region of Singapore. Development of the town is centered around the Kallang River, the longest river in Singapore. Kallang Planning Area is bounded by Toa Payoh in the n ...

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, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–4 , Anthony Rocco Martin , Technical Submission (anaconda choke) , UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:19 ,

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater A ...

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, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 11–2 , Kevin Lee , TKO (punches) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:06 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–1 , Johnny Case , Submission (rear-naked choke) , UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:45 ,

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, Submission (guillotine choke) , UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:53 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 , Vagner Rocha , Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) , UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:52 , Sydney, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Dashon Johnson , Submission (triangle choke) , UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:16 ,

, New Zealand , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Stuart Dare , Decision (unanimous) , Shamrock Events: King of Combat 12 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Dean Purdon , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Australian Fighting Championships 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:42 ,

, Australia , , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Tadija Majic , TKO (punches) , Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:25 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 ,

Luke Jumeau Luke Jumeau (born 12 February 1988) is a New Zealand mixed martial artist, and he competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Jumeau was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. Raised by a single moth ...

, Submission (rear-naked choke) , Australian Fighting Championships 5 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:14 ,

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Callan Potter Callan Potter (born 6 September 1984) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mixed martial arts career Early career Potter compiled a pr ...

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, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Jason Zivkovic , TKO (punches) , Shamrock Events: Kings of Kombat 8 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:23 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Sam Fiamatai , TKO (punches) , Shamrock Events: Night of Mayhem 5 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:47 ,

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, Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia , 27 February 2014 (airdate) , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Government of Canada, Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Jake 1994 births Australian male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Sportspeople from Melbourne Sportsmen from Victoria (Australia) Living people Australian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu People from Epping, Victoria