Jake Matthews vs Neil Magny Fight Analysis
Introduction
Get ready for an electrifying Welterweight showdown as Jake Matthews takes on Neil Magny on Saturday, September 27, 2025, live from the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. This pivotal bout is slated for the Main Card of UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs Reyes, with doors opening at 7:00 PM AWST and the televised action kicking off at approximately 10:00 AM UTC on Sunday, September 28. Whether you’re tuning in from Perth or watching the early morning broadcast in North America, this matchup promises high stakes, explosive action, and plenty of wagering intrigue.
Favorites and Underdogs
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Jake Matthews enters as the overwhelming favorite across the board, with top books listing him around –600 (BetOnline.ag) to –480 (Caesars, BetRivers). At 30 years old, Matthews brings a well-rounded skill set—boasting a 22-7-0 professional record, a formidable 61% significant strike defense, and a 68% takedown defense—to his home continent. He’ll be looking to leverage his freestyle background, crisp striking, and relentless wrestling underdog potential to maintain momentum in the Welterweight division.
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Neil Magny, meanwhile, squares off as the underdog at +350 (BetMGM, BetRivers) to +425 (BetOnline.ag, BetUS). The 38-year-old veteran holds a 30-14-0 record, with a staggering 80-inch reach that has served him well in outstriking opponents from afar. Magny’s recent bounce-back KO over Elizeu Dos Santos showcased his durability and evolving power, but he’ll need to navigate Matthews’s grappling acumen and striking accuracy to pull off the upset.
Why This Bout Matters
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Ranking Implications
Both men are hunting a marquee win to propel them up the Welterweight ladder. Matthews has alternated wins and losses against top-15 talent, while Magny is desperate to prove he still belongs among the division’s elite. -
Styles Make Fights
Matthews’s compact striking and jiu-jitsu pedigree contrasts sharply with Magny’s long-range jab and volume striking. Expect a chess match of range control, takedown entries, and positional scrambles. -
Betting Angles
- Matthews by Submission: With 8 career submission victories and a penchant for early grappling, the Aussie standout could lock in a tapout.
- Magny by Decision: If he can keep things upright and maintain distance, the volume jab and cardio advantage (nearly 13-minute average fight time) could earn him the nod.
This Jake Matthews vs Neil Magny fight analysis will break down stats, styles, and strategic keys to victory. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a casual fan, read on for our full preview, expert picks, and live odds updates as the odds continue to shift ahead of fight night.
Live odds
Live and historic odds as well as more fighter statistics and insights for Jake Matthews vs Neil Magny can be found on the fighter matchup page. All the fighter matchups and live odds for Ulberg vs Reyes can be found on the Ulberg vs Reyes event page.
Matchup & Fighter Profiles
Jake Matthews
Age: 30
Country: Australia
Fighting Style: Freestyle (well-rounded grappler/striker)
Recent Form (Last 5 Fights)
- Win • Jul. 12, 2025 vs Chidi Njokuani (Submission, R1 1:09)
- Win • Feb. 8, 2025 vs Francisco Prado (Decision – Unanimous)
- Win • Jun. 1, 2024 vs Philip Rowe (Decision – Unanimous)
- Loss • Nov. 18, 2023 vs Michael Morales (Decision – Unanimous)
- Win • Jul. 29, 2023 vs Darrius Flowers (Submission, R2 2:37)
Matthews has rattled off four wins in his last five outings, showcasing improved consistency against high-level welterweights. His two most recent victories highlight both his ground prowess (a 1-minute arm-triangle choke over Njokuani) and his cardio-fueled wrestling control.
Strengths
- Submission Offense: 8 career submission victories, with slick transitions and a high fight IQ on the mat.
- Takedown Defense (68%): Elite sprawl-and-brawl ability; difficult to keep down once the fight hits the feet.
- Significant Strike Defense (61%): Absorbs less than 40% of opponents’ power strikes, enabling late-round resilience.
- Early Finisher: Four first-round stoppages; hunting submissions or ground-and-pound quickly.
Vulnerabilities
- Reach Disadvantage: 73-inch reach vs Magny’s 80-inch wingspan—risk of being peppered by jabs and front kicks.
- Striking Power: Only 6 KOs in 22 wins; may struggle to deter a durable opponent with volume striking.
- Pace Adjustment: Averaging 11:15 per fight, but has shown signs of gas when pressed in deep grappling exchanges.
Neil Magny
Age: 38
Country: United States
Fighting Style: Well-Rounded Volume Striker with Rangy Wrestling
Recent Form (Last 5 Fights)
- Win • Aug. 2, 2025 vs Elizeu Dos Santos (KO/TKO, R2 4:39)
- Loss • Nov. 9, 2024 vs Carlos Prates (KO/TKO, R1 4:50)
- Loss • Aug. 24, 2024 vs Michael Morales (KO/TKO, R1 4:39)
- Win • Jan. 20, 2024 vs Mike Malott (KO/TKO, R3 4:45)
- Loss • Aug. 19, 2023 vs Ian Garry (Decision – Unanimous)
Magny bounced back from back-to-back first-round losses with a second-round TKO over Dos Santos, rekindling the power that made him a fixture in the top 15. However, his two straight KO defeats prior expose potential durability concerns.
Strengths
- Reach & Volume: 80-inch reach allows him to pepper opponents from range; lands 46% of significant strikes attempted.
- Cardio & Durability: Averaging 12:16 per fight, Magny’s pace rarely falters, and he has absorbed over 20 UFC bouts without tapping.
- Experience: 44-fight veteran brings fight IQ and adaptability—comfortable switching between striking and wrestling.
- KO Power: 9 career knockouts; counter-striking threat that can turn tides in any exchange.
Vulnerabilities
- Takedown Defense (54%): Below-average sprawl leaves him susceptible to elite wrestlers and high-level grapplers like Matthews.
- Striking Defense (52%): Concedes nearly half of incoming significant strikes—can be caught by counter combinations.
- Submission Defense: Only 4 career submission wins and has been out-wrestled or submitted when pressed by expert grapplers.
- Age Factor: At 38, reaction time may decline, particularly against a younger, more explosive opponent.
Styles Make the Fight
- Matthews’s Grappling vs Magny’s Range: Matthews will hunt takedowns and look to smother Magny’s jab, while Magny must keep the fight upright and use his wingspan to prevent clinch entries.
- Durability Test: Can Magny withstand early submission traps and neutralize Matthews’s ground game? Conversely, will Matthews be able to cut the distance and avoid Magny’s long-range artillery?
This matchup sets up a classic clash of wrestling acumen versus striking range, with each fighter’s strengths dovetailing into the other’s primary vulnerabilities. Bettors should watch takedown attempts, strike differential, and cage control as key indicators of the eventual victor.
Betting Odds & Line Movement
Current Odds Snapshot
As fight night approaches, Jake Matthews is firmly installed as the favorite, while Neil Magny slots in as the underdog:
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Jake Matthews:
• BetMGM: –450 (best payout among major books)
• Caesars & BetRivers: –480
• BetOnline.ag & BetUS: –600 -
Neil Magny:
• BetOnline.ag & BetUS: +425 (best underdog value)
• BetMGM & BetRivers: +350
• Caesars: +360
That gap—Matthews around –450 to –600 versus Magny at +350 to +425—translates into a massive favorite versus volunteer underdog discrepancy. If you’re shopping lines, BetMGM offers the juiciest favorite odds (–450), while BetOnline.ag and BetUS feature the top underdog price (+425).
Line Movement Analysis
A look at the opening and shifting lines on the leading BetOnline.ag board reveals significant early swings:
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Jake Matthews (–350 → –700 → –600)
• Opened at –350 on Sept. 7, quickly moved to –700 by late evening—reflecting sharp early money on the Aussie.
• Drifted back to –400 the next day before bouncing between –500/–450.
• By Sept. 15, Matthews resurged to –600, confirming firm confidence in his chalk status. -
Neil Magny (+285 → +525 → +425)
• Began at +285, then stretched out to +525 after a flurry of Matthews bets.
• Tightened to +330/±350 as the market rebalanced overnight.
• Closed at +425 alongside BetUS, suggesting a last-minute uptick of underdog action or cautious respect for Magny’s veteran savvy.
These double-digit swings underscore the tug-of-war between die-hard Matthews backers and value-hunters willing to back Magny.
$1,000 Bet Payouts & Implied Chances
If you laid down $1,000 on fight night, here’s what you’d walk away with based on current best lines:
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Jake Matthews @ –450 (BetMGM)
Payout: $1,222.22 (profit: $222.22)
Implied Win Probability: ~82% -
Neil Magny @ +425 (BetOnline.ag or BetUS)
Payout: $5,250.00 (profit: $4,250)
Implied Win Probability: ~19%
Best Sportsbook to Bet On
- As the favorite, locking in Matthews at –450 with BetMGM maximizes your return on a lower-risk play.
- As the underdog, grabbing Magny at +425 via BetOnline.ag or BetUS delivers the top-tier payday if the veteran pulls off the upset.
Whether you side with the home-controlling wrestling of Matthews or the rangy, battle-hardened volume of Magny, these odds, swings, and payout scenarios are critical intel for your final pick. Good luck, and may your bankroll grow as the Octagon doors close!
AI Pick: Jake Matthews
Click the buttons below to read more about why the AI picked Jake Matthews, or see all the AI picks for Ulberg vs Reyes. Our AI is trained on our fight data and picks winners for every fight. You can track all the picks, accuracy, and profit for free on our ai-picks page.