Alex Morono

UFC 277's prelims was topped by an entertaining featured welterweight bout between Alex Morono and Matthew Semelsberger. Morono (22-7, 1 NC) was able to find success on the feet early on, being able to land left hooks that stunned "Semi The Jedi," who ended the round with a swollen eye. Semelsberger (10-4) wasn't deterred by his eye closing as he continued to come forward and ended Round 2 with a takedown and some solid ground-and-pound. Shockingly, Semelsberger would floor Morono with a jumping knee to start Round 3. Morono would recover and safely finished the round without any other significant scares.

Matthew Semelsberger wore a hideous purple mouse under his left eye, a trickle of blood on his forehead and sweat all over his torso as he was nearly staggering toward a savvy opponent who had damaged him — and likely beaten him — but could not quite break him.

Alex Morono could play the Rodney Dangerfield card if he so desired. The often-overlooked Texan Will Hunt for some respect as an underdog when he faces Matthew Semelsberger in the featured UFC 277 welterweight prelim on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Morono, 31, enters the cage on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. He last appeared at UFC on ESPN 31, where he boosted his Ultimate Fighting Championship record to 10-4 with a unanimous decision over Mickey Gall in their three-round clash on Dec. 4.

DALLAS – Matthew Semelsberger isn’t planning on battling Alex Morono for 15 minutes, but he’s ready for it. Semelsberger (10-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) faces Morono at Saturday’s UFC 277 event, which takes place at American Airlines Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Alex Morono is hoping to put on a fan-friendly fight when he competes in his home state of Texas on Saturday at UFC 277. Morono is set to fight for the first time in 2022 as he will take on Matthew Semelsberger. Although it is a later start than what the Fortis MMA product is used to, Morono says this is the perfect time to return after a very active 2020 and 2021 that saw him have six fights.