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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn and John Morgan

Jake Matthews: UFC 253 opponent Diego Sanchez was my ‘idol’ growing up

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC 253, Jake Matthews spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Matthews (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) discussed his welterweight bout with Diego Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC), how he watched Sanchez win “The Ultimate Fighter 1” when he was in Grade 5, hoping to elevated himself in the division with a win, being a flag-bearer for Australian MMA and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC 253 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

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