Mackens Semerzier (born November 3, 1980) is an American retired professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who last competed in the

Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

division. A professional competitor from 2008 until 2012, he competed for the

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...

and WEC.

Background

In 1999 Mackens placed 6th in the 6A Florida High School Wrestling tournament and was a Disney Duals AAU Wrestling National runner up. At the age of 19, Semerzier signed on to the U.S. Marines. While enrolled, he would begin training a lot of boxing. A little later, through a Marine Corps Martial Arts program, he learned other elements of the MMA game, which he would supplement with training at civilian gyms, most notably Linxx Academy in Virginia Beach, where he still trains and coaches.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Semerzier made his pro debut against Ryan Lamareaux on a local North Carolina MMA card. Semerzier won the bout in the third round after locking up a rear naked choke submission. Only a little over a month after his pro debut, Semerzier had his second fight, again winning via rear naked choke submission. He won two more fights, finishing both opponents, before signing with the

World Extreme Cagefighting World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) was an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion founded in 2001. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was mad ...

in 2009.

World Extreme Cagefighting

Semerzier made his debut for the promotion at

WEC 43 ''WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on October 10, 2009, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Background The event was scheduled to take place on September 2, 2009, at the Co ...

stunning the former IFL Featherweight Champion,

Wagnney Fabiano Wagnney Silva Fabiano-Santos (born July 14, 1975) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is best known for fighting in the WEC, as well as for the Toronto Dragons of the International Fight League and is the former IFL Featherweight Champion ...

. Semerzier submitted the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace in the first round via triangle choke. He earned himself ''Submission of the Night'', and also was awarded "Sherdog's 2009 Upset of the Year". Semerzier suffered his first career loss to Lithuanian grappler Deividas Taurosevičius at WEC 46. Semerzier was scheduled to face Anthony Morrison on April 24, 2010, at

WEC 48 ''UFC Presents: Aldo vs. Faber'', also referred to as ''WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on April 24, 2010 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. This was WEC's first an ...

, but Semerzier was forced from the card with an injury. Instead of fighting Morrison, he fought Javier Vazquez. Semerzier was defeated via second round submission on August 18, 2010, at WEC 50. Semerzier was defeated by

Cub Swanson Kevin Luke "Cub" Swanson (born November 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2004, S ...

via split decision in a back and forth affair on November 11, 2010, at

WEC 52 ''WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki'' was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas. Background Urijah Faber made his bantamweight debut against Japanese striker Takeya ...

in a bout that earned ''Fight of the Night'' honors.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In October 2010,

merged with the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC. Semerzier's first fight in the UFC was against UFC newcomer, and The Ultimate Fighter 12 competitor, Alex Caceres, at UFC Fight Night 24. He won the fight via rear naked choke submission early in the first round. Semerzier was expected to face Yuri Alcantara on August 27, 2011, at UFC 134. However, Semerzier was replaced on the card by UFC newcomer Antonio Carvalho. Semerzier was expected to face Mike Lullo on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 25. However, Semerzier was forced from the bout with an injury and was replaced by Robbie Peralta Semerzier faced Robbie Peralta on November 12, 2011, at UFC on Fox 1. Semerzier officially lost via TKO in the third round, but replays showed that a collision of heads started the stoppage. The fight was later ruled a no contest by the California State Athletic Commission. A rematch with Peralta was expected to take place on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2. However, Peralta was forced out of the bout with a toe injury and replaced by Daniel Pineda. Pineda defeated Semezier via first round submission. After losing to Pineda, Semerzier was released from the promotion.

Post UFC

Semerzier made his return to the cage on August 18, 2012, at XFO 45, defeating Guillermo Serment by submission due to a d'arce choke sixty two seconds into the fight. He then went to on to face Gilbert Jimenez a few months later on November 17, 2012. He defeated Jimenez via submission in the second round. He has not competed since this.

Championships and accomplishments

;World Extreme Cagefighting *Submission of the Night (One time) *Fight of the Night (One time) ;Sherdog *2009 Upset of the Year (vs.

)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, , Gilbert Jimenez , Submission (guillotine choke) , Combat Sports Challenge 34 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:52 ,

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

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Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

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Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...

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Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

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Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–2 , Javier Vazquez , Submission (rear-naked choke) , WEC 50 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:35 ,

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Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

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San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

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Kenny Foster Kenny Foster (born June 16, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2009, Foster has competed for Bellator Fighting Championship, Bellator, holding a record of 3–6 with the promotion. Mixed martial ...

, Submission (triangle choke) , Elite Fighting Challenge 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:03 ,

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Jason Hilliker , TKO (punches) , Cagefest Xtreme: All In , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:01 ,

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References

External links

Official UFC Profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Semerzier, Mackens African-American mixed martial artists American male mixed martial artists American sportspeople of Haitian descent Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Living people Mixed martial artists from Florida 1980 births Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American male sport wrestlers Amateur wrestlers American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu