After more than four years on the roster, UFC welterweight Jeremiah Wells will likely be competing to keep his spot in the promotion on this weekend’s card.
Jeremiah Wells Once One of Scariest Welterweight Prospects
Nearly half a decade ago, Jeremiah Wells made his company debut at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov. Prior to that, the Renzo Gracie Philly fighter had gone on a tear on the regional scene, accumulating a 7-2-1 professional record while capturing the CFFC 170-lb strap. The one lone draw in the time span came against fellow future UFC competitor Bassil Hafez, who himself gave current champion Jack Della Maddalena an incredibly close run for his money on his rise to the top.
Stepping into the UFC Apex for his freshman outing to the Octagon, Jeremiah Wells duked it out with Ultimate Fighter tournament winner Warlley Alves. Needing only just over five minutes, he managed to knock out the stalwart Brazilian UFC welterweight with a hellacious right hook, stunning the veteran.
April 21, 2023, Las Vegas, NV, LAS VEGAS, NV, United States: LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 21: Jeremiah Wells steps on the scale for the official weigh-ins at Sante Fe Station Hotel Casino for UFC Fight Night – Vegas 71 – Pavlovich vs Blaydes – Weigh-ins on April 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, United States. Las Vegas, NV United States – ZUMAp175 20230421_zsa_p175_037 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
Proving himself a talented finisher, Wells went on to accrue two more wins over Mike Mathetha and a second TUF alum in Court McGee, stopping both men in the first round. His victory over the latter in particular went viral after Jeremiah Wells delivered a devastating left hook that dropped “The Crusher” to the canvas. His performance in that match awarded Wells his first Performance of the Night award. Although he just eked out a split decision triumph over Matthew Semelsberger in his next contest, all eyes were on the touted up-and-comer as a UFC welterweight to watch out for.
Beginning of Jeremiah Wells’ Decline, Current Status
Heading into the later stages of 2023, Wells looked to be on a steady but exciting climb up the UFC’s welterweight ladder. For the first ten minutes of his scrap with Carlston Harris at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Font, he appeared to be comfortably on his way towards another win on the biggest stage in the sport, he even won the first two rounds on the scorecards.
That was until “Moçambique” pulled a jaw-dropping come-from-behind reversal, securing a masterful anaconda hoke in the third that put Wells completely out cold, handing the American his loss in over four years.
Things did not play out much better for Wells in his next tilt either. Facing Max Griffin in his only fight of 2024, he found immense difficulty with landing any meaningful power shots, with “Pain” skillfully evading or blocking most of them. By the end, it was Griffin who emerged with his hand raised by split decision.
This was the last time that Wells fought before his upcoming assignment this weekend at UFC Fight Night 263, where he will lock horns with African prospect Themba Gorimbo. Being away from action for nearly two years, and with his 39th birthday happening two days before the event, no one knows if the once scariest puncher outside the rankings will be able to reclaim his place in the win column. And given his current two-fight losing skid, Wells may just be fighting for his job as a UFC welterweight on Saturday in Las Vegas.