UFC Fight Night: Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris Preview & Prediction
Two experienced welterweights collide on the main card, Australian gatekeeper Jake Matthews looks to bounce back against the dangerous submission artist Carlston Harris.
Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris facts
What time are Jake Matthews and Carlston Harris expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Galaxy Arena, Macau SAR, China
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 277
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo main card
Song Yadong vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Zhang Mingyang vs Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji (Flyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo prelims
Lee Yi-sak vs Luis Felipe Dias (Middleweight)
Ding Meng vs Jose Henrique Souza (Welterweight)
Aori Qileng vs Cody Haddon (Bantamweight)
Angela Hill vs Xiong Jingnan (Women’s Strawweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs Jaqueline Amorim (Women’s Strawweight)
Zhu Kangjie vs Rodrigo Vera (Featherweight)
Rei Tsuruya vs Luis Gurule (Bantamweight)
Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
Jake Matthews: Well-rounded gatekeeper looking to bounce back
Jake Matthews (22-8) has been in the UFC since 2014, and has settled into the role of being a genuine gatekeeper for the rankings. His losses come almost exclusively against the better names of the division - Sean Brady, Michael Morales, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and most recently Neil Magny. “The Celtic Kid” is the way more complete fighter, fundamentally sound boxing with a great defensive frame, fast kicks, and a strong BJJ game. He fights at a high pace and closes the distance well, as shown when he blitzed in, took the back, and submitted Chidi Njokuani early. The caution here is careless takedown attempt, shown against Magny which led directly to a Darce choke.
Carlston Harris: Veteran finisher with a lethal scramble game
Carlston Harris (19-7) is ad experienced 38-year-old known as one of the more dangerous grapplers in the division. The Guyanese-Brazilian carries decent power and six submission wins. His Darce and anaconda submission in scrambles are the highlights. Harris slept Jeremiah Wells, who was winning the fight comfortably, when a sloppy clinch attempt landed him into the choke. Harris stands upright, his boxing is unrefined, he has an unconventional straight that has worked at times but generally leaves him exposed.
Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris prediction
This is a fight between two seasoned UFC fighters, but I just don’t see Harris operating on the same level as Matthews. The Australian is a level above almost everywhere the fight can go; cleaner boxing, a tighter defensive shell, faster kicks, and a more rounded grappling approach. At 38, with a year away from competition, Harris isn’t trending in the right direction.
The only real danger I see here is Harris’ submission game. He thrives in scrambles and against careless opponents, when an opponents shoots in tired, he has the chance of latching up a submission. This is what Matthews did against Magny in the third round, a careless takedown attempt landed him into the Darce, the exact submission that Harris loves to work.
Assuming Matthews fights disciplined and respects the submission game of Harris, the path to victory should be fairly straight forward. He should outbox Harris at range, time clean takedowns against the fence, and work a careful submission in if he gets the chance. I expect a fairly comfortable victory for Matthews here, just as long as he stays switched on.
Prediction: Jake Matthews to win
