Jake Matthews made a strong statement at UFC Macau, showcasing a comprehensive and dominant performance against Carlston Harris. Following a recent setback, the Australian welterweight delivered one of the best showings of his career, controlling the fight for all three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.
From the outset, Matthews imposed his will with precise boxing and unwavering forward pressure. He consistently landed cleaner strikes than Harris, effectively countering and avoiding significant damage. While Harris landed some effective leg kicks, he struggled to keep pace with Matthews’ output and offensive output.
The second round revealed another dimension of Matthews’ skill set. After successfully defending an early takedown attempt, he transitioned to dominant positions on the ground, achieving side control and mount. He threatened with submission attempts, coming close to securing an arm-triangle choke and a kimura, forcing Harris into a purely defensive posture for much of the round.
Any chance of a comeback for Harris was extinguished early in the third round. Matthews landed a powerful strike that dropped Harris, immediately capitalizing by securing top position. He maintained suffocating control for the remainder of the fight, relentlessly pursuing submissions while also landing effective ground-and-pound.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Matthews’ complete control: two judges scored the bout 30-27, and one judge awarded a 30-25 scorecard in favor of “The Celtic Kid.”
This victory ends Jake Matthews’ recent losing streak, bringing his UFC record to 16 wins and 8 losses. His overall professional record now stands at 23 wins and 8 losses, with four wins in his last five Octagon appearances.
English Translation:
Jake Matthews left little doubt about his superiority at UFC Macau. Returning to action after a setback last year, the Australian welterweight delivered one of the most complete performances of his career, dominating Carlston Harris across all three rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.
“The Celtic Kid” established control from the opening bell with sharp boxing and relentless forward pressure. Matthews consistently landed cleaner punches during striking exchanges, connecting with solid combinations while adeptly avoiding most of his opponent’s returns. Although Harris found some success with leg kicks, he struggled to match Matthews’ pace and offensive output throughout the initial frame.
The second round showcased another facet of Matthews’ game. After stuffing an early takedown attempt, the 31-year-old Australian quickly secured dominant positions on the ground, advancing through side control and mount while threatening with multiple submission attempts. Matthews came close to locking in both an arm-triangle choke and a kimura, forcing Harris into a defensive shell for a significant portion of the round.
Any hopes of a late comeback for Harris dissipated moments into the third round. Jake Matthews landed a powerful strike that sent Harris crashing to the canvas, and he immediately followed up by taking top position. From there, he controlled the remainder of the fight with suffocating grappling, actively hunting for submissions while mixing in damaging ground-and-pound.
When the final horn sounded, the outcome was never in doubt. Two judges scored the contest 30-27, while a third judge submitted a 30-25 scorecard in favor of “The Celtic Kid.”
The victory snaps Jake Matthews’ losing streak and improves his UFC record to 16-8. He now holds a professional record of 23-8 and has won four of his last five outings inside the Octagon.