Salt Lake City, UT — Being away from family and unsure if he’d have a fight at UFC 291 was as “big emotional roller coaster,” Australian welterweight Jake Matthews admitted following his win over Darrius Flowers.
Matthews (19-6) submitted Flowers via rear-naked choke in the second round at the Delta Center on Saturday. Originally, however, he’d been paired up with Miguel Baeza.
“Being America, I was pretty confident they’d get us someone. Anywhere else around the world, I probably wouldn’t have ended up fighting.”
That would have been difficult, given his own lengthy layoff, needing to keep ring rust off, and support his family. “It was a big relief when Darrius stepped up.”
Believe it or not, Matthews believes the fighter who had a full camp is actually at a greater disadvantage when it comes to opponent switches.
“I believe it’s harder for the fighter who was already going to fight than the person who stepped up last minute. Because we have to completely change good habits that we’ve made in seven or eight weeks of training,” Matthews explained. “Where as I would love it if they called me up and said ‘fight in a week.’ I would absolutely love that. Nothing to lose, go in first round, try and swing and take the head off, which is what Darrius did.”
Watch the full UFC 291 post-fight press conference with Jake Matthews above.
