Sean Brady submits Jake Matthews in dominant performance at UFC 259
There are three title fights going down at UFC 259 this Saturday, March 6.
The main event is when two champions will collide as the middleweight king Israel Adesanya challenges the light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The reigning women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes welcomes Australia’s Megan Anderson in the co-main event.
Bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan makes his first defense against the surging Aljamain Sterling in the first championship bout of the evening.
Sean Brady vs. Jake Matthews
In the fourth bout of the evening, Sean Brady (13-0) is set to fight Jake Matthews (17-4) in the early prelims, which are set to begin at 6 PM EST. on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. Brady enters the fight two years the elder but Matthews is eight fights more experienced. Matthews and Brady have a height and reach within an inch of each other, giving neither fighter a real advantage.
The American from Philadelphia, PA, looks to keep his record unblemished. While his foe, Matthews hails from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. “The Celtic Kid” Matthews is 14-4 in the UFC and hopes to continue his three-fight win streak, as he’s coming off a win over Diego Sanchez.
Even with over 15 fights inside the octagon, Brady is held as the favorite in this matchup with -215. The Renzo Gracie Philly fighter is eyeing his fourth victory inside the octagon. Matthews is a slight underdog with a +175.
This welterweight matchup lands at a great point in both fighter’s careers. A win for Matthews will land him two big-name victories in a row, which can launch him into the top 15 rankings. A victory for Brady will keep him perfect in his career. A win over a long-time UFC vet like Matthews will definitely earn Brady a ranking to the left of his name.
This matchup is on an already stacked card and these two athletes can easily steal the show early with a fast pace of three rounds which is expected between them. They are evenly matched up and this spells potential fight of the night action.
Follow the action live below as we deliver Play-by-play commentary:
Round 1:
Both fighters touch gloves at the center and Matthews starts throwing jabs early that don’t land. Matthews throws a combination and Brady blocks it. Brady lands a shot of his own. Matthews uses his jab and Brady answers with an outside leg kick. Matthews keeps coming in and Brady answers with a left hook, and then Brady pushes forward. Action is going back and forth. Matthews clips Brady and drops him. Brady recovers with a takedown and ends up in side-control. While Brady bleeds from the top, the former CFFC champion working for a transition. Now Brady steps over Matthews’ leg and continues to work a transition. Brady throws a few shots from the top, trying to weaken Matthews up to transition to full mount. Ten-second warning and Brady starts throwing a few more shots. Brady landed 26 strikes to Matthews’ 10 strikes.
Round 2:
Matthews opens up with the jab. Brady comes forward with a left hook. Matthews lands a right. He lands the right again. Brady answers with an inside leg kick. Sean Brady with a great level change to a double leg takedown. Brady is now on top. Matthews trying to scramble and Brady takes his back. While controlling his back, he’s landing shots from the top. Matthews back against the cage while on his butt. Brady has the legs of Matthews laced up and Brady is controlling the head of Matthews as he has his arm around the top of his head. Now out to the side with his back on the canvas, Brady is controlling the top and not allowing Matthews to do much. Brady now working the body. Brady is getting his head on the outside of the tricep of Matthews. Now Brady mounts Matthews back and rains down strikes from the top before the horn sounds to end the round.
Round 3:
Brady opens with an inside leg kick and throws another. Matthews trying to move forward as he throws the right hand that’s not landing. Brady stumbles Matthews with a left hook. Matthews recovers and Brady remains patient. Brady throws another inside leg kick. Brady fakes the takedown and Matthews over sprawls and gives Brady an opportunity to claim the back of Matthews. Brady lets hammer fists rain down. Matthews covering and trying to move while Brady rides his back. Brady continues to drop shots to the face of Matthews. Brady using a leg hook to remain in control while he’s on the back of Matthews and continues landing shots. Brady now going for an arm triangle and forces Matthews to tap at 3:28 of round 3.
Official decision: Sean Brady def. Jake Matthews via Submission (Arm Triangle) in round 3, at 3:28.
Brady landed 109 total strikes to Matthews 30 total strikes. Brady controlled him for 8:09 in the fight. Brady went for the finish and definitely earned a shot to be ranked in the top 15 of the welterweight division.
A dominating performance for the Renzo Gracie Philly fighter in Sean Brady. He’s now 14-0 in his career and 4-0 in the UFC. Brady calls out a top 15 fighter.
PHILLY TOUGH.
🔔 @SeanBradyMMA locks in the RD 3 sub!
[ LIVE on @UFCFightPass, ESPN2, #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/vF2Eq8M1nO
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2021
