Semerzier Readies His Encore
Brian Knapp Jan 5, 2010
D.
Mandel/Sherdog.com
Mackens Semerzier wants to be remembered as more than just the first man to submit World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight contender Wagnney Fabiano.
The 29-year-old former Marine will meet International Fight League veteran Deividas Taurosevicius in a featured bout at WEC 46 “Varner vs. Henderson” this Sunday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif. There, Semerzier, in his second WEC appearance, will seek to prove he was far more than a one-hit wonder.
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A Miami, Fla., native, Semerzier trains out of the Linxx Academy of Martial Arts in Virginia, where he also works full-time as Lead Combatives Instructor for Linxx Global Solutions. Having put himself on the map with his stunning first-round submission victory against Fabiano -- a former IFL champion and decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt -- Semerzier hopes the added exposure could soon lead to his becoming a full-time fighter.
“I look forward to making my name,” said Semerzier, who also trains
regularly with former WEC bantamweight king Miguel
Torres. “I’m hoping to get recognized as one of the better
fighters and looking to be in a title fight.”
He sees himself as a marketable commodity.
“I’m an aggressive fighter who’s athletic and technically proficient, and I’m intense,” Semerzier said. “When it’s time to fight, I’m there to fight.”
Semerzier’s stunning win over the Nova Uniao-based Fabiano at WEC 43 in October was a career-altering event for the married father of three.
“It gave me confidence knowing that if I train correctly and come into a fight 100 percent, I can be competitive with anybody,” he said.
Taurosevicius, a durable former professional rugby player, presents an entirely different set of challenges. The rugged 32-year-old Lithuanian has yet to be finished and holds notable submission victories against Bart Palaszewski and UFC veteran Dan Lauzon. Taurosevicius, a BJJ brown belt, has not competed since he outpointed Javier Vazquez in a controversial split decision three months ago.
“He’s a very tough guy,” said Semerzier, who has stopped four straight opponents inside one round. “I’m known as a guy who finishes fights, and he’s never been finished. It’s going to be a difficult fight. He’s not a shy fighter. He’s a dangerous opponent.”
Nothing Semerzier sees in the cage will catch him off guard. He spent eight years in the military and was part of the initial United States invasion of Iraq back in 2003. The time he spent in the Marines primed him for a successful career in mixed martial arts.
“It was a good time,” he said. “I got to go a lot of places I wouldn’t have ever seen and probably won’t see again. It was great, not only for my physical conditioning but my mental conditioning.”
Already ranked among the world’s elite featherweights, Semerzier admits he needs further seasoning before he challenges for 145-pound supremacy in the WEC.
“I definitely think I need to get a couple more wins,” he said. “I don’t think I need to wait two or three years, but once I do get the opportunity, if I do get the opportunity, I want it to be well-deserved.”
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