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Haunting the Welterweight Division: A.J. Fletcher's Path to the UFC

A closer look at the triumphal march that brought a welterweight “Ghost” to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

On Aug. 31, A.J. Fletcher (9-0) had the honor of inaugurating the fifth season of Dana White's Contender Series as he clashed with Leonardo Damiani, a tough Italian who had made a name for himself on the European regional scene. It was a quick night at the office for “The Ghost” who landed a flying knee out of nowhere and rendered Damiani unconscious right in the opening stanza. It took only 2:24 for the fighter from Louisiana to land a contract to the big league.