Jake Matthews decisively proved his superiority at UFC Macau.
Following a recent setback against Neil Magny, the Australian welterweight showcased one of the most complete displays of his career. Matthews controlled Carlston Harris throughout all three rounds, ultimately earning a unanimous decision win on Saturday at Galaxy Arena.
From the opening bell, “The Celtic Kid” established dominance with sharp boxing and persistent forward pressure. Matthews consistently landed cleaner punches in striking exchanges, delivering precise combinations while effectively evading Harris’s retaliations. Although Harris managed to land some leg kicks, he struggled to keep pace with Matthews’s output and intensity during the first round.
The second round highlighted another facet of Matthews’s skillset.
After successfully defending an early takedown attempt, the 31-year-old Australian quickly gained advantageous positions on the ground. He advanced through side control and mount, threatening with multiple submission attempts. Matthews came close to locking in both an arm-triangle choke and a kimura, forcing Harris into a defensive posture for most of the round.
Any possibility of a late comeback was extinguished early in the third round.
Jake Matthews landed a powerful strike that sent Harris to the canvas, immediately following up with top position control. He then dictated the remainder of the fight with suffocating grappling, actively seeking submissions while delivering damaging ground-and-pound strikes.
By the time the final horn sounded, the outcome was clear. Two judges scored the bout 30-27, and a third judge awarded a 30-25 scorecard in favor of “The Celtic Kid.”
This victory halts Jake Matthews’s losing streak and improves his UFC record to 16-8. His professional record now stands at 23-8, with four wins in his last five Octagon appearances.
