Matthew Semelsberger
Matthew Paul Semelsberger (born November 23, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background. Semelsberger is a 2011 graduate of Urbana High School, where he competed in football, lacrosse, and wrestling. Excelling particularly in football, he led Urbana to a state championship win, and later played Division I-AA football with a scholarship at Marist College while majoring in criminal justice. However, he ended up dropping out at the beginning of his MMA career. At the age of 14, he entered an MMA program at a school  close to home. Having done some years of youth wrestling, Matthew wanted to learn how to fight in case he ever found himself in a position where violence was his only option. After one of his wrestling buddies showed him his collection of the Ultimate Fighting Championship DVDs and VHS tapes, he was enamored with the sport and decided to start his goal of making the UFC. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Starting his professional career in 2017, Semelsberger compiled a 6-2 record in the regional East Coast scene, competing in such promotions like CFFC, where he won  a close decision against Zulkarnaiyn Kamchybekov at CFFC 74, Maverick MMA where he won a bout against Kris Gratalo at Maverick MMA 15 after Gratalo threw in the towel between rounds due to a broken arm,and Art of War Cage Fighting, where Semelsberger picked up his final win before being given a UFC contract after knocking out Richard Patishnock at AoWCF 17. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Semelsberger was initially scheduled to make his promotional debut against Philip Rowe at on August 22, 2020. However, Rowe pulled out of the bout citing a toe injury and was replaced by Carlton Minus . Despite knocking Minus down in the first round, Semelsberger won the fight via unanimous decision. Semelsberger made his sophomore appearance in the promotion against Jason Witt at on March 14, 2021. He won the fight via first-minute knockout. This win earned him the "Performance of the Night" award. Semelsberger faced Khaos Williams on June 19, 2021 at . He lost the bout via unanimous decision. Semelsberger faced Martin Sano Jr. on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. He won the fight via knockout in round one. Semelsberger faced A.J. Fletcher on March 12, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 203. He  won the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.