NEWARK, N.J. – Jake Matthews beat Phil Rowe with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 302 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Take a look inside the fight with Matthews, who has alternated wins and losses his past seven fights going back nearly four years.
Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe
Result: Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Updated records: Matthews (20-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC), Rowe (10-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Key stats: Matthews outstruck Rose 89-40.
Matthews on the fight's key moment
“Obviously, I needed to adapt a little bit from the first round, which we did. We adapted and came away with a win. I think the main thing I showed is that no matter if it’s the tallest guy in the division, like Phil, or the shortest guy, like Darrius Flowers, after the first round, I’ll adapt and I’ll win.
“I hate winning by decision. It’s good. At the day, you’ve got a family – you’ve got to put food on the table, and it’s still a win on the board. But to me, this is war. I’ve completely changed my mindset to this being a sport. We’re martial artists. Martial arts is a religion. What we do is war. It’s battle. You’re winning by points, it means nothing to me. Realistically, if we’re out in the real world, if I put a choke on, I’m not letting go until there’s no life left in you. If I knock you out, same deal. So winning by decision, it’s not the best. But again, we adapted, we pushed through, we came out with a win.”
Matthews on being ready for the next phase
“I’ve been in the UFC for 10 years. I was a teenager. I had to grow up and mature and learn on the job while fighting the best fighters in the world. So for me to still be here after 10 years – the average fight career of a UFC fighter is like three. I’ve had 20 fights, been here for 10 years, so I think I’m doing something right. It’s just that missing piece at the end, which I think is the maturity that’s going to come in my early 30s.”
Matthews on what he wants next
“Phil (Rowe) just fought Neil Magny, I think, in his last fight. I think I put on just as good a performance as Neil did. It was a more exciting fight. I think I hurt Phil more than Neil did. I know (Magny is) paired up with (Michael) Morales, but depending on how that fight goes, that could be a good fight – somewhere around that kind of ranking.”
To hear more from Matthews, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.
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