UFC Fight Night 222’s Jeremiah Wells confident he outpointed Matthew Semelsberger despite knockdowns

LAS VEGAS – Jeremiah Wells knew he won in his return to the octagon, despite getting knocked down a couple of times in the process.

The UFC welterweight defeated Matthew Semelsberger in the opening bout of the UFC Fight Night 222 main card, which took place on Saturday night at the UFC Apex. Wells (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) won a split decision, defeating Semelsberger (11-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) with two 30-27 scores in his favor, opposite a dissenting 28-29 score for his opponent from the official judges.

“I knew I had at least two rounds,” Wells said at the UFC Fight Night 222 post-fight press conference. “I know he kind of beat me in the first round, but I was confident that I was going to win. I gave myself two rounds because the first round I was knocked down. I was like, ‘Damn.’ I haven’t gotten knocked down in years. I feel like I was a little rusty. I just needed to move my head a little more and fake.”