Josh Emmett
CC0
USA
Draws Zalal at UFC 320
Emmett will take on Youssef Zalal in a featherweight matchup at UFC 320 on Oct. 4, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Emmett had been in the featherweight title picture as recently as 2023, but after dropping three of his last four -- all to elite opponents -- he's now being used as a gatekeeper for a contender in Zalal who is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. Emmett will give up height and reach disadvantages to an opponent in Zalal who is more than 10 years younger. He does have an edge in striking volume, though Zalal is much better defensively, and brings more of a wrestling game to the table. Look for this matchup of top contenders to be placed on the main card.
Emmett had been in the featherweight title picture as recently as 2023, but after dropping three of his last four -- all to elite opponents -- he's now being used as a gatekeeper for a contender in Zalal who is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. Emmett will give up height and reach disadvantages to an opponent in Zalal who is more than 10 years younger. He does have an edge in striking volume, though Zalal is much better defensively, and brings more of a wrestling game to the table. Look for this matchup of top contenders to be placed on the main card.
Fight Log
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Drops decision in main event
Emmett lost to Lerone Murphy via unanimous decision (47-48, 47-48, 46-49) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
After appearing three times in 2023, this was Emmett's first fight in a year and a half. It's really tough to say a bout in which you enter as a +260 underdog is a must-win, but it feels like Emmett, at age 40, had to have this one to remain even on the fringes of the title conversation. He did some good work, but not enough of it. Josh predictably landed some of the bigger blows of the night in addition to four takedowns, but Murphy stuck to the game plan and stayed to the outside and picked Emmett apart. Josh's insistance on firing off 11 takedown attempts was baffling because he didn't make much headway even when he got Lerone to the mat. Emmett is 1-3 in his last four fights and essentially finished as a top-tier option in a loaded featherweight division.
After appearing three times in 2023, this was Emmett's first fight in a year and a half. It's really tough to say a bout in which you enter as a +260 underdog is a must-win, but it feels like Emmett, at age 40, had to have this one to remain even on the fringes of the title conversation. He did some good work, but not enough of it. Josh predictably landed some of the bigger blows of the night in addition to four takedowns, but Murphy stuck to the game plan and stayed to the outside and picked Emmett apart. Josh's insistance on firing off 11 takedown attempts was baffling because he didn't make much headway even when he got Lerone to the mat. Emmett is 1-3 in his last four fights and essentially finished as a top-tier option in a loaded featherweight division.
Taking on Murphy
Emmett will take on Lerone Murphy in a featherweight bout at UFC Vegas 105 on April 5, Mike Heck of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Emmett will look to build on the momentum from his last fight, a rapid Round 1 Knockout of Bryce Mitchell on Dec. 16. That pushed his UFC record to 10-4, and he'll now face an enormous challenge in Murphy, who is a perfect 7-0-1 in the promotion and has yet to lose a professional fight, period. Murphy has three inches of height on Emmett, as well as three inches of reach.
Emmett will look to build on the momentum from his last fight, a rapid Round 1 Knockout of Bryce Mitchell on Dec. 16. That pushed his UFC record to 10-4, and he'll now face an enormous challenge in Murphy, who is a perfect 7-0-1 in the promotion and has yet to lose a professional fight, period. Murphy has three inches of height on Emmett, as well as three inches of reach.
Quick, brutal knockout victory
Emmett defeated Bryce Mitchell via KO (punch) at 1:57 of Round 1 at UFC 296 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Emmett obviously deserves high marks for his performance, but he also deserves credit for accepting this fight against a very talented foe after his originally scheduled opponent Giga Chikadze withdrew roughly 10 days ago. Emmett will be 39 years of age in early-March, but he hits about as hard as any featherweight in recent memory, as Mitchell found out here. One Emmett right hand not only knocked Bryce out cold, but sent him into convulsions. Thankfully, he appeared to fully recover. As for Emmett, he snaps a brief two-fight losing streak and keeps his name in the conversation at 145 pounds. He'll also take home a well-deserved, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts here.
Emmett obviously deserves high marks for his performance, but he also deserves credit for accepting this fight against a very talented foe after his originally scheduled opponent Giga Chikadze withdrew roughly 10 days ago. Emmett will be 39 years of age in early-March, but he hits about as hard as any featherweight in recent memory, as Mitchell found out here. One Emmett right hand not only knocked Bryce out cold, but sent him into convulsions. Thankfully, he appeared to fully recover. As for Emmett, he snaps a brief two-fight losing streak and keeps his name in the conversation at 145 pounds. He'll also take home a well-deserved, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts here.
Gets new opponent
Emmett will now fight Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296 on Dec. 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Emmett's original opponent, Giga Chikadze, was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury. Emmett may be able to take advantage of the fact Mitchell will be fighting on short notice, though Emmett is still on a two-fight losing streak, while Mitchell has lost just one of eight fights in his UFC career.
Emmett's original opponent, Giga Chikadze, was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury. Emmett may be able to take advantage of the fact Mitchell will be fighting on short notice, though Emmett is still on a two-fight losing streak, while Mitchell has lost just one of eight fights in his UFC career.
Opponent backs out
Emmett will no longer take on Giga Chikadze (undisclosed) at UFC 296, MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Emmett's opponent, Chikadze, had to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if Emmett will get a new opponent in time for the event on Dec. 16.
Emmett's opponent, Chikadze, had to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if Emmett will get a new opponent in time for the event on Dec. 16.