LAS VEGAS – Jake Matthews wants to get a crack at the top 15 of the UFC’s welterweight division, and he believes a win in his next bout will get him just that.
Matthews returns to the octagon this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 232. Matthews (19-6 MMA, 12-6 UFC) takes on unbeaten prospect Michael Morales. It’s a big welterweight bout given Matthews’ tenure and Morales’ (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) rise in the division. The Australian is confident a ranked opponent will be next for him, if victorious on Saturday.
“It’s the kind of fight where one of us is going to go on and fight a ranked opponent next, 100 percent,” Matthews told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 232 media day. “I’ve been in this situation a number of times throughout my career, so I know how to deal with it. I’ve had fights where if I won those fights, I probably should’ve gotten a ranked opponent after, and I settled for someone who wasn’t ranked.
“If we get the win this weekend, I’m going to sit and wait for a ranked guy to accept. However long it takes because getting a win over a guy like Michael, it definitely deserves a ranked opponent after.”
Both Matthews and Morales are no strangers to quick finishes. However, Matthews is preparing for a standup war and believes his experience will get him to victory.
“I always expect three rounds, but anything can happen,” Matthews said. “It would be good to get in and out quick, but I always expect a war in every fight that I get into. I got multiple Fight of the Night bonuses, so I know I can go into deep waters and get those 15 minutes in. I know I can knock guys out early in the fight, and I know I can sub guys as well. However, the fight goes, we’re ready. It’s definitely going to be a striking-heavy fight. We’re both primarily boxers. It’s whoever can implement their game plan.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 232.
Jake Matthews: Win over Michael Morales ‘definitely deserves’ ranked opponent next