Jake Matthews showcased a masterful performance at UFC Macau, leaving no doubt about his superiority over Carlston Harris. Returning after a previous loss, the Australian welterweight displayed one of the most comprehensive fights of his career, controlling Harris for all three rounds to secure a unanimous decision win.
From the outset, Matthews dictated the pace with precise boxing and relentless forward pressure. He consistently landed cleaner shots and effective combinations, while skillfully evading Harris’s counter-strikes. Although Harris managed to land some leg kicks, he struggled to keep up with Matthews’ offensive output and intensity throughout the first round.
The second round revealed another dimension of Matthews’ skillset. After successfully defending an early takedown attempt, the 31-year-old fighter gained significant control on the ground. He transitioned through dominant positions like side control and mount, threatening with multiple submission attempts, including an arm-triangle choke and a kimura, forcing Harris into a defensive stance for most of the round.
Any hope of a comeback for Harris was quickly extinguished in the third round. Matthews landed a powerful strike that sent Harris to the canvas, and he immediately capitalized by securing top position. He then maintained suffocating control for the remainder of the fight, actively seeking submissions while landing damaging ground-and-pound strikes.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Matthews’ dominance: two judges scored the fight 30-27, and the third awarded him a 30-25 decision.
This victory halts Matthews’ losing streak and brings 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.
