Prediction: Chidi Njokuani via Decision
If you put Matthews in a phone booth and let him unload, he’s dangerous. He throws in flurries, mixes it up well, and can keep that pressure going all three rounds. On paper, that kind of pace could be enough to wear guys down and steal rounds—but the problem is, Matthews is just way too hittable.
Chidi isn’t the type of striker you want to be defensively lazy against. He’s a monster for the division—long, strong, and methodical. He’s not out there swinging wild or chasing finishes early. He’s calculated. That slower pace he fights at isn’t hesitancy—it’s strategy. He’s cutting a ton of weight to make 170, so instead of emptying the gas tank in round one, he’s picking his shots, managing distance like a sniper, and making every exchange count.
And that spells trouble for Matthews. When Matthews crashes the pocket or tries to clinch, he usually overwhelms guys who aren’t physically strong or technical there. But Chidi’s Muay Thai is tight, and his frame makes that range a nightmare to navigate. Knees, elbows, frames, and perfect separation—he doesn’t give you time to work. Matthews might throw volume, but Chidi makes his shots count way more.
Matthews’ best (and probably only real) shot is to wrestle. If he can chain takedowns, wear on Chidi, and make it grimy, maybe he grinds out a decision. But it’s a big ask. Chidi has underrated takedown defense, and even if Matthews gets him down, holding him there is a different story. And every second they’re standing, it’s danger zone. Matthews just isn’t defensively tight enough to avoid eating clean shots from a guy like Chidi. He’s gonna get tagged—and when he does, it’s not just points on the board, it’s potential momentum shifters.