UFC 275 winner Jake Matthews explains how regression was key to knockout victory

SINGAPORE – Sometimes, a fighter needs to take a step backward in order to move forward.

This, according to welterweight Jake Matthews, who picked up a knockout victory Saturday over Andre Fialho at UFC 275.

The win was Matthews’ first since September 2020. Prior to UFC 275, his most recent competition was in March 2021. Despite the inactivity, Matthews (17-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) said the strides he made in training were due to mental reversion to his younger self.

“We just put everything together,” Matthews told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “The biggest thing was I regressed back to how I fought when I was a teenager. That boxing, that aggression is what got me into the UFC. Along the way, I lost that. We wanted to bring that back. We implemented that into this training camp, and I think everything fell into place.

“With the 12 months off, it was frustrating, but I believe the universe has a plan, so when a fight got canceled, I just be back in the gym, working toward it. Everything from the delays, fighting in Singapore, getting bumped up to the main card, it was all meant to be, to showcase that.”

Through pandemic-related hardships and long periods of inactivity, Matthews still persevered. That said, he wants things to be different going forward. No more waiting around. Perhaps the UFC Fight Night event Sept. 3 in Paris could be a play.

“I love fighting with my fellow Australians,” Matthews said. “Fight weeks are so much more comfortable having some Kiwis around. Definitely I’m going to stay active. We just put the slab down for a house, so I need to get some fights going so we can build that. I just want to be active. Too many layoffs. Too many stints where I’ve had 10, 12 months off. It’s time to keep the ball rolling, especially with my momentum and all that.”

Check out the full UFC 275 post-fight news conference from Matthews in the video above.