UFC Jacksonville Preview (Emmett vs. Topuria)
The UFC will be returning to the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday June 24. The main event will have title implications in the featherweight division between #5 Josh Emmett and #9 Ilia Topuria.
Emmett will be trying to rebound from a second round submission loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284 in February, in which he challenged for the interim title. Prior to the loss he had won five straight fights that included victories over Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige.
The 38-year-old will need to make a big statement on Saturday if he wants to remain in the title conversation at 145 pounds. Where does Emmett feel he is at in his career and on his search for a title shot?
“I don’t look and I don’t fight like a 38-year-old. I got into this sport later than a lot of people. I have the best team around me, and I have everything dialed in to a tee; it just wasn’t my night,” Emmett said. "I give it up to Yair. (Alexander) Volkanovski and him are going to fight July 8, I wish them the best — they’re both good people — and I just have to move on, get back to what’s the next task at hand, and that’s June 24.
“With a big statement, a big win, I feel like I’m right back in the mix.”
How does Emmett feel about Topuria? “The UFC is looking to build him up, but I’ve fought a lot of guys that are similar to him, his style. He’s really good. He’s a really good fighter, young, confident, but he’s never fought anyone close to me. There is nobody that is even close to my abilities.”
Topuria is undefeated and has five wins in the UFC. He most recently defeated Bryce Mitchell by second round submission at UFC 282 in December. The 26-year-old is facing his toughest challenge in Emmett, and he will enter his name in the title conversation with a win on Saturday.
Topuria believes a win over Emmett represents a title shot. "What's going to happen is that I'm the next guy in line," Topuria told CBS Sports. "Once I shine on Saturday night, I'm going to beat Josh Emmett and I'm the next guy in line without any doubt. Who else deserves to fight for the championship more than me?”
While he is confident, Topuria knows that Emmett will be a tough challenge. "He doesn't really have many weaknesses. That's why he's one of the best fighters in the world. But I know that he can't match my level of skill inside the cage," Topuria said. "As always, the new generation always brings something new. The level of my fight game is much better than his. This is the way I feel.”
Does Topuria think the spotlight is on him and this fight? "I really feel that especially after my last fight. When I beat Bryce Mitchell, it started to become more huge," Topuria said. "I feel good about that.”
The rest of the main card:
Women’s Flyweight - Amanda Ribas vs. Maybe Barber
Middleweight - Cody Bundrage vs. Sedriques Dumas
Featherweight - David Onama vs. Gabriel Santos
Middleweight - #13 Brendan Allen vs. Bruno Silva
ESPN + Prelims:
Welterweight - #11 Neil Magny vs. Philip Rowe
Flyweight - Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Joshua Van
Heavyweight- Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa
Welterweight - Randy Brown vs. Wellington Turman
Lightweight - Mateusz Rebecki vs. Loik Radzhabov
Women’s Strawweight - Tabatha Ricci vs. Gillian Robertson
Lightweight - Trevor Peek vs. Jose Mariscal
Featherweight - Jamall Emmers vs. Jack Jenkins
Flyweight - Tatsuro vs. Kleydson Rodrigues
