This month, we put the spotlight on Matt Dixon, an undefeated welterweight from Oklahoma who has been competing for Xtreme Fight Night, and who will jump to LFA in March.
Nickname: Magic
Age: 24-years-old
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
Height: 5’10″
Reach: 74″
Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 8-0
Ranked #1 in active Oklahoma Pro Welterweights according to Tapology
Ranked #4 in active US Southwest Pro Welterweights according to Tapology
Who is Matt Dixon?
Matt Dixon first got into MMA through his father at the age of 5 years old. At the time he dabbled with some boxing, Muay Thai, submission wrestling, and other disciplines including BJJ as well. It wasn’t until Dixon was 12 years old that he started to watch MMA himself, which is when he discovered his passion for the sport.
There weren’t really any legit MMA trainers around Dixon at the time, so he watched fights and would shadowbox his ass off every day, he told us. The young Dixon remembers wanting a heavy bag to train with, but his mom couldn’t get him one right away. Dixon didn’t want to wait so he found an old tire in the woods that he took home and hanged in his backyard. That became his heavy bag. He beat on the bag every day when he got home until you could barely see the tire anymore.
Outside of MMA, Dixon has fought in boxing and kickboxing. He went 9-0 in kickboxing and 1-0 in boxing, as he did compete as a pro in boxing as well. Along with that, he competed in some grappling tournaments. Dixon currently trains out of WCF based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma with head coach Craig Blacklock. He found coach Blacklock when he was only 14, and it was his first real coach in MMA. His mother, a mom of three children with a lot on her plate, was just able to afford Dixon’s training with WCF, allowing him to follow his dream. Dixon wanted to, at the very least, have seven fights as an amateur but by the time he was 5-0 he reached his peak as an amateur in Oklahoma. Besides which, it became too hard for him to find fights. “Magic” Dixon has excelled as his profession currently with an 8-0 record as a pro, with six finishes. He’s the current Xtreme Fight Night welterweight champion winning that in only his third pro fight with multiple title defenses.
Striking
Dixon is a good boxer who displays a solid jab and a check left hook. He does a good job going to the body-head with his hands ripping with good placement. His striking wouldn’t be as good without his excellent kickboxing and vice-versa. He throws a crisp jab into a leg kick and a nice left uppercut into a leg kick. He’s usually throwing combinations and the best thing is he always throws something different, mixing it up.
Kickboxing
On the feet, his kickboxing is arguably his best aspect. Dixon fights behind his kicks at times and sometimes ends combinations with a kick. He does a great job kicking the lead leg of his opponents right behind the knee and lower calf. Dixon also throws a good side kick to the mid-section. He can be a little flashy as well throwing some spinning kicks. He much better staying conventional attacking that lead leg where he attacks not only heavy but very frequently.
Clinch
Nothing really significant that stands out in the clinch but Dixon does do well. He is always working landing knees, fighting underhooks, and dropping levels. He’s intelligent knowing his positions and placement on his knees. He will get controlled at times against the fence but has never been gotten the best of.
Movement
Dixon isn’t flashy with his footwork but does switch stances often making it hard for his foes to read him. Dixon is never overly aggressive as he comes in with combinations and steps out of the pocket avoiding any damage.
Wrestling
The wrestling from Dixon is his best attribute. Dixon has an excellent double leg takedown that he times so well. He will wait till his opponent comes in before he changes levels using their momentum against them to get the easy dump takedown. Dixon will utilize a lot of feints to set up his takedowns. He will throw strikes to wrestle as he’s become very reliable capitalizing on it. Dixon doesn’t need the cage nor does he need to chain wrestle, as he easily can get the fight down at center.
Ground game
Dixon has some excellent grappling. He’s knowledgeable in transitions knowing what to do. He’s smooth in his transitions and well-executed in moving into the mount and taking the back. Dixon only has one submission win but is more of a threat with his ground and pound. He’s a more dangerous striker but his jiu-jitsu, control, scrambles, and ground and pound sets him apart.
Cardio
“Magic” Dixon has gone the distance twice and has gone past the third round twice. His hands do slowly drop as the fight goes but his cardio doesn’t look to be a problem. Dixon fights at the same pace all fight and for what he does that’s pretty darn good.
Defense
On the feet, I mentioned earlier his hand drop and I noticed as he circles away from the clinch he drops his hands to his waist. With that said he’s never really been dropped since his footwork is good as is his head movement. It’s just little things that can be adjusted but with such a young fighter that’s expected.
Final thoughts: Dixon is in my eyes one of the better unknown prospects right now. It will be noted that his level of competition hasn’t been the best fighting just mainly decent regional talent. His record still is in no way padded as he’s never fought anyone with a losing record and the opponents he’s beat, he’s done so in dominant fashion. He has the skills and tools to go far in the sport. Signing with LFA should set him up to excel at the next level. The UFC is already interested as they offered him a fight in the past so I’d expect him at the very least to turn up on the Contender Series this next Summer.
