UFC Cuts Struggling Welterweight After 4-Straight Losses

The influx of talent into mixed martial arts and the UFC specifically has seemingly created a more consistent stream of fighter releases. Among the most recent, the UFC parted ways with the one-time promising but currently struggling Matthew Semelsberger.

He was released from the UFC on February 1 and confirmed the news via Instagram with one of the realest posts anyone could ever ask for from a fighter.

“Officially released from the UFC,” Semelsberger confirmed via Instagram. “Par for the course, I don’t deserve to be there with the best of the best and I’ve shown that these last few fights in particular. Everyone hits plateaus and filters in life and in their careers. It’s happened many times in my life and I’ve tasted the pain of both discipline and regret in succeeding or failing to climb levels. The whole you either-die-a-hero-or-live-to-become-the-enemy rings true to me, because life is a series of metaphorical deaths and rebirths. You can’t stay the same, you gotta grow and let go of your old self to evolve a stronger heart and spirit. Letting go has been difficult for me the last few years but ya know I’ve found that eventually, often late, God gets the truth through to me and I respond accordingly. Everything that’s happening is setting me up for greatness, I got faith on that. It is up to me to answer the call to adventure though. So I’ll BRB, gonna go die and be reborn from the ashes right quick. Really think you’ll like the new guy.”

If Semelsberger, 32, ever decides to put the gloves down, it sounds like he’s got a book or two in him.

In any case, Semelsberger is correct. His recent struggles made it clear he’s not competing on a level consistent with the competition in the UFC. Semelsberger has lost his last four fights and last won in December 2022 when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Jake Matthews.

Ironically, Matthews is set to fight on Saturday night in Sydney, Australia as a part of the UFC 312 main event. Things can change quite a bit in two years–especially in MMA.

Semelsberger broke into the UFC in 2020 and he began his run with the world’s top promotion on a hot streak. He won his first two fights, earning a performance bonus for a highlight-reel KO of Jason Witt in March 2021.

He lost his next fight to Khaos Williams, but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Martin Sano and AJ Fletcher. Unfortunately, since the win over Fletcher in March 2022, Semelsberger went 1-5 with his lone victory being the win over Matthews.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Semelsberger land with the Professional Fighters League or with the Global Fight League where he might have a chance to rebuild himself for a second run in the UFC.

What’s Next For the UFC?

As mentioned above ,the UFC is in Australia on Saturday for UFC 312. Here is a look at the entire card.

Main Card – 10 PM ET

• (C) Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland – UFC Middleweight Championship
• (C) Weili Zhang vs. Tatiana Suarez – UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
• Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira – Heavyweight
• Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato – Light Heavyweight
• Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado – Welterweight

Prelims – 8 PM ET

• Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos – Featherweight
• Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borschev – Lightweight
• Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil – Women’s Flyweight
• Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria – Men’s Bantamweight

Early Prelims – 6 PM ET

• Jonathan Micallef vs. Kevin Jousset – Welterweight
• Kody Steele vs. Rongzhu – Lightweight
• Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli – Lightweight
• HyunSung Park vs. Ayamjargal Tumendemberel – Men’s Flyweight