Jake Matthews (18-5) takes on Matthew Semelsberger (10-4) in a welterweight bout at the prelims of UFC Vegas 66. Matthews is coming off a phenomenal victory over Andre Fialho, which is probably one of the best performances of his career.
Meanwhile, Semelsberger is coming off a decision loss to Alex Morono and is looking to get back in the win column. Before that, he was coming off two impressive victories over Martin Sano Jr. and AJ Fletcher. This weekend, Semelsberger will hope to pick up a dominant win against a very tough opponent in Matthews.
Matthews vs Semelsberger: Stats
Stats | Jake Matthews | Matthew Semelsberger |
Wins | 18 | 10 |
Losses | 5 | 4 |
Height | 1.8 m | 1.85 m |
Division | Welterweight (170lbs) | Welterweight (170lbs) |
Reach | 1.85 m | 1.91 m |
Age | 28 | 30 |
Jake Matthews vs Matthew Semelsberger: Fight Breakdown
Jake Matthews is in incredible form currently. His win over Fialho in his recent fight earned him the POTN (Performance of the Night) bonus. ‘The Celtic Kid’ is a very experienced fighter with a lot of experience in the Octagon. Matthews made his promotional debut way back in 2014 and over the years, he has amassed a record of 11-5 in the UFC.
The Celtic Kid coming to close the year strong!@JakeMatthewsUFC can make it back-to-back KO victories in 2022 at #UFCVegas66 tomorrow 👊
4pmET / 1pmPT start | Full card on @ESPNPlus 📺 pic.twitter.com/Y1ui1DoX6H
— UFC (@ufc) December 16, 2022
‘The Celtic Kid’ is exceptionally good at grappling but is also a threat on the feet. His powerful striking can be a problem for his opponent. Matthews utilizes his long jabs and powerful punches to tag his opponents and also has a solid ground game to rely on. He looked remarkable in his recent fight. Before that fight, he suffered a submission loss to Sean Brady but rebounded with a phenomenal victory.
Meanwhile, Matthew Semelsberger will need a desperate win to take out his opponent. Semelsberger is 4-2 in the promotion and made his debut in 2020. ‘Semi the Jedi’ has proven to be a lethal threat on the feet and has some incredible stoppage wins.
Matthew Semelsberger KO🔥🔥#UFC266 pic.twitter.com/Hmd8BLZSV4
— MMA Kenya (@MMAFansKenya) September 25, 2021
Semelsberger will need to rely on his fast and powerful strikes to take on Matthews. However, he must try to keep the fight on the feet because Matthews has a clear advantage on the mat. Semelsberger uses his long-range attacks to take apart his opponent and it is expected that this fight will be a treat for the fans.
Who will win between Matthews and Semelsberger at UFC Vegas 66?
Going into the fight, Semelsberger will enjoy both the height and reach advantage. However, this is a tough matchup for him, given that he is coming off a tough loss and Matthews is at his very best. Still, Semelsberger has the chance of catching Matthews with a fast counter on their feet.
Matthews is good both at standup and grappling. He is at his very best and will need to put up a tough fight this weekend. Semelsberger loses to Matthews if this fight goes to the mat and both have the chance to get a stoppage win if they stand and trade shots on their feet.