Having watched Williams closely as both a fan and knowing he could one day be a future opponent, Semelsberger is acutely aware of the threats his 27-year-old adversary brings to the Octagon with him this weekend, and while he’s fully intending to go out there and give the fans their money’s worth, the plan is to do it all on his terms.
“I’m not expecting anything, but I am intending to do some things,” begins the contemplative welterweight. “I’m intending to entertain the people watching, which is something that is very much at the forefront of my mind — being an entertainer and doing what I’m paid to do.
“He’s a big guy, he hits hard, and he’s got very good knockout power,” he adds. “If you look at a lot of the guys he’s fought, if they stick in the pocket with him, they get knocked out. I’m not going to stick in the pocket with him all day; I might get in there, but I’m going to be smart about it.
“I’m not afraid to go in there and get reckless and gritty and get into a dog fight, but I’m going to do it on my terms. I’m going to make him fight my fight.”
View Semelsberger’s Athlete Profile
A little more than six years after walking away from school to chase his dreams, Semelberger stepped onto the biggest stage in the sport for the first time.
A little more than four months after making his debut, he registered a second consecutive win and his first stoppage victory inside the Octagon.
Now, barely 10 months after making the walk for the first time, he’s set to march to the Octagon for a third time, riding a five-fight winning streak, entering into a matchup where a victory would instantly establish him as one of the top emerging talents in the ultra-competitive welterweight ranks.
Not bad for someone that lost his amateur debut and spent his final three years in college with everyone thinking he was that guy that says he “trains UFC” but can’t fight worth a lick.
