Jake Matthews vs Emil Meek UFC Predictions & Tips - 2/22/2020

Jake Matthews vs Emil Meek

UFC Fight Night 168

Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Jake Matthews will face off against Emil Meek at UFC Fight Night 168 in Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, February 22, 2020. The opening odds have Matthews at -235 while Meek is at +195.

Jake "The Celtic Kid" Matthews comes into this fight with a record of 15-4-0. The 25-year-old is fighting at 170 lbs and measures 5' 11". The orthodox fighter reaches 73". Emil "Valhalla" Meek measures 5' 11" and will fight at 170 lbs. The switch fighter comes into this bout with a mark of 9-4-1. The 31-year-old stretches 74". When talking about significant strikes, Jake Matthews connects on 3.07 per min while Emil Meek is connecting on 2.24 significant strikes per minute. Matthews lands 46% of the significant strikes he attempts while Meek is landing 38%. When it comes to defending in the cage, "The Celtic Kid" allows 2.02 significant strikes per minute and "Valhalla" allows 2.64. Matthews also deflects 63% of the significant strikes that are thrown his way and Meek is able to curb 32% of the shots thrown.

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In the wrestling category, Jake Matthews is the better grappler as he is able to score a takedown 1.99 times per 15 min. Matthews is scoring a takedown on 38% of his attempts and stopping 66% of all takedown tries against him. Meek is scoring a takedown on 50% of his takedown attempts and is stuffing 48% of the attempts against him. Regarding going for the sub, Matthews is the lesser skilled fighter by trying 0.8 submissions per 15 min while Meek tries 1.3 submissions per 15 minutes.

In his last fight, Jake Matthews fought Rostem Akman and wound up getting the win via unanimous decision in round 3. Akman ended up landing 15 of 110 total strikes that he let go in that fight. Matthews finished this fight landing 61 of 136 total strikes. In regard to significant strikes, Akman landed 15 of 110, giving him a percentage of 13%. He landed 8 of 94 significant strikes directed at the head. Statistically, Matthews landed 44% of the significant strikes he threw by landing 59 of 133. Out of all the significant strikes thrown, he connected on 19 of 76 pointed at the head. 73% of the significant strikes landed by Akman and 89% of them connected on by Matthews were done at distance.

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In the last bout for Emil Meek, he went up against Bartosz Fabinski and took a loss on the night via unanimous decision in round 3. Fabinski landed 34% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance while Meek ended up connecting on 66% of the significant strikes he attempted from distance. Meek ended up connecting on 32% of the significant strikes he attempted by connecting on 21 of 65. He ended up landing 20 of 60 significant strikes to the head. Fabinski ended up connecting on 35 of 48 significant strikes in that fight. In regard to the placement of these significant strikes, he connected on 28 of 40 directed at the head. Regarding total strikes attempted in that contest, Fabinski ended up connecting on 72 of 91 and Meek was 69 of 115 of all the strikes he attempted.

Other fights to watch

Another fight to keep an eye on is when Callan Potter meets Song Kenan. Potter steps into the cage with a record of 18-8-0. The 35-year-old tips the scales at 170 lbs and stands in at 6' 0". The orthodox fighter reaches 72". Kenan stands in at 6' 0" and weighs in at 170 lbs. The orthodox fighter walks into the cage with a record of 15-5-0. The 29-year-old has a wingspan of 71". In the grappling category, Callan Potter takes his opponents to the canvas 2.83 times per 3 rounds while Song Kenan takes his opponents down 0.50 times per 15 min. Regarding striking, Potter lands 3.21 strikes/min and connecting on 51% of his attempted strikes. Joining him in the Octagon is Song Kenan, who is landing 45% of the strikes he attempts and connects on 4.13 per min.

Another must see fight on the night is when Tyson Nam is set to go up against Kai Kara-France. Kara-France walks into the Octagon with a mark of 20-8-0. The 26-year-old tips the scales at 125 lbs and comes in at 5' 4". The orthodox fighter stretches 69". Nam comes in at 5' 7" and steps on the scale at 125 lbs. The orthodox fighter looks to add a victory to his record of 18-10-1. The 36-year-old has a reach of 68". In terms of wrestling, Kai Kara-France is stopping 88% of the takedowns his opponents try and is finishing his takedown tries on 37% of the times he tries. Nam is taking his opponents to the mat on 10% of his attempts and prevents 10% of takedowns his opponents have tried. With reference to striking, Kara-France absorbs 3.90 strikes per min while he deals 5.28 per minute. Nam, on the other side, takes 6.40 strikes/minute and dishes out 2.67 per min.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Jake Matthews (-235)

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