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Matthew Semelsberger (born November 23, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Matthew Semelsberger | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 23, 1992 Rockville, Maryland, United States |
| Nickname | Semi the Jedi |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
| Division | Middleweight Welterweight |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm)[1] |
| Team | Crazy 88 MMA Clinch Academy |
| Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2] Purple belt in Muay Thai[2] |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Semelsberger is a 2011 graduate of Urbana High School, where he competed in football, lacrosse, and wrestling.[3][4] 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. Semelsberger started 15 games for the Red Foxes at strong safety in his career with a great senior season of 67 tackles, 5 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. At the age of 14, he entered an MMA program at a school close to home, Clinch Academy. 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.[5][6]
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,[7] 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,[8] 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.[9]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Semelsberger was initially scheduled to make his promotional debut against Philip Rowe at UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar on August 22, 2020.[10] However, Rowe pulled out of the bout citing a toe injury and was replaced by Carlton Minus.[11] Despite knocking Minus down in the first round, Semelsberger won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]
Semelsberger made his sophomore appearance in the promotion against Jason Witt at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad on March 14, 2021. He won the fight via first-minute knockout.[13] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[14]
Semelsberger faced Khaos Williams on June 19, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige.[15] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[16]
Semelsberger faced Martin Sano Jr. on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266.[17] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[18]
Semelsberger faced A.J. Fletcher on March 12, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 203.[19] He won the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[20]
Semelsberger faced Alex Morono on July 30, 2022 at UFC 277.[21] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[22]
Semelsberger faced Jake Matthews on December 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216.[23] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[24]
Semelsberger faced Jeremiah Wells on April 22, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 222.[25] He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.[26]
Semelsberger was scheduled to meet Yohan Lainesse on July 29, 2023 at UFC 291.[27] However, Lainesse was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Uroš Medić.[28] Semelsberger lost the bout via TKO in round three after being dropped with a spinning backfist and then finished with ground and pound.[29]
Semelsberger faced Preston Parsons, replacing Bassil Hafez on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234.[30] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
Semelsberger faced Charles Radtke on November 9, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 247.[32] He lost the fight by technical knockout early in the first round.[33]
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the night (One time) vs. Jason Witt[14]
| 19 matches | 11 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 11–8 | Charles Radtke | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates | November 9, 2024 | 1 | 0:51 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–7 | Preston Parsons | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 | January 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–6 | Uroš Medić | TKO (spinning backfist and punches) | UFC 291 | July 29, 2023 | 3 | 2:36 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | Jeremiah Wells | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes | April 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Jake Matthews | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Alex Morono | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 10–3 | A.J. Fletcher | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev | March 12, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–3 | Martin Sano Jr. | KO (punch) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 1 | 0:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Khaos Williams | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige | June 19, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Jason Witt | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad | March 13, 2021 | 1 | 0:16 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 7–2 | Carlton Minus | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar | August 22, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Richard Patishnock | KO (punch) | Art of War Cage Fighting 17 | February 8, 2020 | 1 | 2:14 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 5–2 | Kris Gratalo | TKO (injury) | Maverick MMA 15 | November 9, 2019 | 2 | 5:00 | Dickson City, Pennsylvania, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 4–2 | Zulkarnaiyn Kamchybekov | Decision (split) | CFFC 74 | May 17, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 3–2 | Jerome Featherstone | TKO (punches) | Shogun Fights 20 | October 6, 2018 | 3 | 4:09 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Scott Noble | TKO (punches) | Shogun Fights 18 | April 14, 2018 | 2 | 4:53 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 2–1 | Darren Costa | Submission (brabo choke) | Shogun Fights 17 | October 7, 2017 | 3 | 1:23 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Brian Maxwell | Submission (heel hook) | Strike Off 10 | June 17, 2017 | 3 | 1:43 | Manassas Park, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Donelei Benedetto | TKO (punches) | Shogun Fights 16 | April 8, 2017 | 2 | 1:10 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
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