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Matthews edges Velickovic by split decision in UFC welterweight debut

Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jake Matthews didn't exactly set the world ablaze in his UFC welterweight debut, but he did enough to get back in the win column.

After three rounds of closely contested grappling, the converted lightweight was anointed the winner of his 170-pound tilt with Bojan Velickovic by split decision at UFC Fight Night 121 in Sydney on Saturday. The verdict snapped Matthews' two-fight skid, boosting his promotional record to 5-3 in the same city he submitted Vagner Rocha in his second walk to the Octagon three years ago.

After an uneventful first round that saw Matthews work to impose his will in the grappling exchanges - while eating short shots to the face against the fence - it was Velickovic who gained the upper hand on the mat in the second stanza. The Serbian native countered an early takedown attempt from his foe with a guillotine from full mount, then cruised from back control once Matthews had escaped the choke.

The 23-year-old Matthews got the better of the leather exchanges to close out Round 2, then traded takedowns with Velickovic to open the third. After his foe once again threatened with the choke from back control, Matthews dug deep to regain the dominant position, finishing the fight on Velickovic's back. When all was said and done, two of three judges gave the Aussie the nod by scores of 29-28.

Velickovic has now lost two straight and three of his last four over the past 11 months. His UFC record now sits at 2-3-1.

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