He was looking for a fight with Ian Garry or Niko Price, but welterweight Matthew Semelsberger has instead drawn AJ Fletcher as his next assignment.
Semelsberger (9-3) will welcome Fletcher (9-0) to the octagon on March 12, 2022. The UFC recently added the match-up to the official card for the Fight Night event, with “Semi the Jedi” later confirming the pairing.
“March 12th, we back at it! Love the matchup, AJ Fletcher is a well rounded mixed martial artist and has a high level of athleticism that I can read so that excites me as an athlete,” Semelsberger wrote on social media. “Stay tuned for more but I’m looking to make huge statements in 2022.”
Having posted a 3-1 record inside the octagon to date, Semelsberger will enter the fight off a blistering KO win against Martin Sano back in September at UFC 266. Joining the UFC in 2019, Semelsberger picked up consecutive wins against Carlton Minus and Jason Witt, before dropping a decision to Khaos Williams, his only loss in seven fights.
Fletcher has won all nine of his pro contests to date, after a successful amateur career. He secured win number on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, stopping Leonardo Damiani with a flying knee.
While Semelsberger is a tough out for a debut fight, Fletcher boasts an impressive resume. Prior to DWCS, he strung together four straight submission wins. Across his nine pro fights, he’s been to a decision just once.
The UFC’s March 12, 2022 Fight Night card will take place at the Apex in Las Vegas. Semelsberger vs. Fletcher is scheduled to be part of the evening’s preliminary festivities. Thus far, the following bouts have been reported for the event:
- Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev
- Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong
- Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva
- Guido Cannetti vs. Kris Moutinho
- Trevin Jones vs. Javid Basharat
- Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk
- Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Cody Brundage
- Sabina Mazo vs. Mandy Bohm
- Alex Caceres vs. Sodiq Yusuff
- Tafon Nchukwi vs. Azamat Murzakanov
- Ricky Glenn vs. Drew Dober
- JJ Aldrich vs. Ariane Lipski
- Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Karl Roberson
- Matthew Semelsberger vs. AJ Fletcher
