Josh Emmett
CC0
USA
No-shows Vegas main event
Emmett lost to Kevin Vallejos via TKO (punches) at 3:33 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Emmett lasted all of 98 seconds his last time out before being submitted by Youssef Zalal. He pushed it to three-plus minutes here against Vallejos, although the end result was the same. The bottom line is that the UFC simply cannot be matching Emmett up against these young, stone-cold killers. He could get absolutely nothing going offensively here and looked like a deer in the headlights before Vallejos eventually pounced. Emmett had zero answers once the tidal wave came his way. Josh has lost three straight fights in the span of the past 11 months and the UFC is going to have to find a way to use him more intelligently if they plan to keep running him out there.
Emmett lasted all of 98 seconds his last time out before being submitted by Youssef Zalal. He pushed it to three-plus minutes here against Vallejos, although the end result was the same. The bottom line is that the UFC simply cannot be matching Emmett up against these young, stone-cold killers. He could get absolutely nothing going offensively here and looked like a deer in the headlights before Vallejos eventually pounced. Emmett had zero answers once the tidal wave came his way. Josh has lost three straight fights in the span of the past 11 months and the UFC is going to have to find a way to use him more intelligently if they plan to keep running him out there.
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Booked for UFC Vegas 114
Emmett will take on Kevin Vallejos in a featherweight matchup at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
After losing back-to-back fights and four of his last five, Emmett has been relegated to gatekeeper status in the 145-pound division, and he'll now face a ranked up-and-comer riding a three-fight winning streak. Vallejos has the edge in volume striking, and while Emmett has typically been known for his power, that could very well be fading as he approaches the age of 41.
After losing back-to-back fights and four of his last five, Emmett has been relegated to gatekeeper status in the 145-pound division, and he'll now face a ranked up-and-comer riding a three-fight winning streak. Vallejos has the edge in volume striking, and while Emmett has typically been known for his power, that could very well be fading as he approaches the age of 41.
Lasts 98 seconds in Vegas
Emmett lost to Youssef Zalal via verbal submission (armbar) at 1:38 of Round 1 at UFC 320 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It doesn't matter that Emmett is 40 years old and entered as a +350 underdog. The bottom line is that he needs to put forth a better effort than he showed here. Emmett gave up the easiest takedown you will ever see before verbally submitting to the armbar. Josh was competitive last time out against Lerone Murphy in a main event spot in April, but Murphy didn't shoot a single takedown in that fight. The California native is 1-4 in his last five fights and has just a single win dating back to June 2022. The UFC needs to be much more careful regarding the level of competition it matches Emmett up against moving forward if the company plans to keep running him out there.
It doesn't matter that Emmett is 40 years old and entered as a +350 underdog. The bottom line is that he needs to put forth a better effort than he showed here. Emmett gave up the easiest takedown you will ever see before verbally submitting to the armbar. Josh was competitive last time out against Lerone Murphy in a main event spot in April, but Murphy didn't shoot a single takedown in that fight. The California native is 1-4 in his last five fights and has just a single win dating back to June 2022. The UFC needs to be much more careful regarding the level of competition it matches Emmett up against moving forward if the company plans to keep running him out there.
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.
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.