Jake Matthews made quick work of Chidi Njokuani in a welterweight bout at UFC on ESPN 70, securing a submission victory just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round.
The fight, which took place on the prelims at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, began with Njokuani launching a series of powerful kicks. However, Matthews responded by taking the fight to the canvas. Once on the ground, he quickly transitioned to Njokuani’s back and locked in a rear-naked choke.
Although Njokuani attempted to escape by standing and shaking Matthews off, the hold remained secure, forcing him to tap.
With the win, Matthews (22-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) extended his winning streak to three fights. The 30-year-old Australian, known as “The Celtic Kid,” previously earned back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Phil Rowe and Francisco Prado.
Following the bout, Matthews used his post-fight interview to call out former title challenger Gilbert Burns, signaling his ambition to climb the welterweight rankings.