Jake Matthews and Johnny Case will duel this Saturday (March 19, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 85 inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. In a match up of talented up-and-comers, what adjustments must be made for either man to claim victory? Find out below!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight prospects Johnny Case and Jake Matthews will brawl this Saturday (March 19, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 85 inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.
Case is one of the more overlooked prospects in the division. At just 26 years old, he’s already won more than 20 fights, including four straight inside the Octagon.
On the other hand, his opponent still has plenty of buzz around him. One of the youngest men on the roster, Matthews is an incredible athlete who has already scored three finishes inside the Octagon.
Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for both men:
Johnny Case
Record: 22-4
Key Wins: Yan Cabral (UFC Fight Night 77), Kazuki Tokudome (UFC Fight Night 52)
Key Losses: None
Keys to Victory: Case is a very well-rounded fighter with great finishing instinct. Of his 22 victories inside the cage, “Hollywood” has stopped 18 of his opponents via knockout or submission.
In this bout, Case needs to rely on his technical skill. He’s a solid athlete to be sure, but Matthews is an incredibly fast and explosive fighter who could surprise him.
Rather than look to simply exchange punches or takedown attempts, Case needs to work from the outside and stay tight. Matthews is still rather raw on his feet, and he leaves defensive openings that a sharp striker like Case should be able to capitalize on.
Additionally, maintaining his distance has other benefits. When Matthews was trying to force takedowns against James Vick, it lead him into a deep guillotine choke. If Case can make Matthews uncomfortable and get him to act recklessly, he could capitalize in similar fashion.
VS.
Jake Matthews
Record: 9-1
Key Wins: Akbarh Arreola (UFC 193), Vagner Rocha (UFC Fight Night 55)
Key Losses: James Vick (UFC Fight Night 65)
Keys to Victory: Matthews is an incredible athlete with a strong grappling game. Once he gets on top of opponents, he’s dominant with both ground strikes and submissions, resulting in some great finishes for the Aussie.
In this bout, Matthews path to victory is pretty clear. While Matthews striking isn’t terrible and has been improving, he’s much more comfortable in grappling exchanges. Therefore, Mathews needs to get in close and suffocate Case.
It’s important that Matthews doesn’t over-extend himself while trying to chase Case down. He cannot afford to exhaust himself or eat too many hard counter punches. Instead, Matthews needs to be methodical in his attempts to cut off the cage and trap his foe.
Once in the clinch or in on a shot, Matthews grappling skill and athleticism should shine through. If he’s able to establish top position opposite Case, Matthews can really open up and try to hurt Case. Unlike many of his recent opponents, Case is not a jiu-jitsu specialist — he’s not weak in that area, but it’s unlikely that Case will be pulling out too many crazy guard attacks — so Matthews can be particularly aggressive.
Bottom Line: This is a match up of very talented 155-pound prospects.
Lightweight is a talent-rich division, and that’s something Case should be very aware of at this point. Normally, a four-fight win streak would earn him plenty of attention, but his division is full of skilled fighters looking to climb the ranks.
On the bright side, this is a reasonably high-profile opportunity to separate himself from the pack. However, a loss will make it even more difficult to stand out in the future.
Meanwhile, Matthews age, dynamic style of fighting, and large Australian fan base has earned him plenty of attention. That said, the level of competition he’s been defeating hasn’t been the greatest, so this is a big step up. If he defeats Case, Matthews may be ready for other top prospects or some of the division’s many veterans.
Alternatively, a loss means that Matthews needs more time to grow before stepping up again. He’s only had a single fight since his defeat to Vick, so that really wouldn’t be the worst thing for him. At his age, Matthews career should be managed carefully, as he is a special talent.
At UFC Fight Night 85, Johnny Case and Jake Mathews will go to war. Which fighter will remain standing when the dust settles?