Featherweight standout Josh Emmett is tired of being cast in the role of gatekeeper and wants the chance to prove himself against the very best the 145-pound division has to offer.
The Team Alpha Male stalwart proved his toughness once again Saturday, as he battled through a knee injury sustained in the first minute of the fight to defeat Shane Burgos in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 11 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was a performance that delivered a big statement to his doubters, and Emmett doubled down in his press conference comments, as he called on the UFC to give him the promotional push he thinks his talents deserve.
But with the UFC featherweight division looking absolutely stacked – and with virtually everybody above him either officially booked to fight, or close to being booked – it begs the question: Who makes the most sense as Emmett’s next opponent inside the octagon?
MMA Junkie’s Simon Head, Farah Hannoun and Danny Segura tackle the topic as they offer their matchmaking takes in this week’s edition of Triple Take.
****
Simon Head: Sit tight, get back to 100 percent, then face the winner of Kattar vs. Ige
I sympathize with Emmett’s position here, but also recognize the difficulty the UFC’s matchmakers face in accommodating his totally legitimate request.
Emmett undoubtedly proved he’s deserving of a fight against one of the contenders above him in the UFC rankings. His problem is almost everyone is tied up, but with his knee needing at the very least some rest; and at worst, surgery, it looks like he may have to sit tight and wait for things to shake out anyway. And that might make things much clearer as a host of key featherweight fights play out in the coming months.
Stylistically, a fight with Calvin Kattar would make for an outstanding matchup, but he’s set to face another rising contender, Dan Ige, in Abu Dhabi next month. A fight with the winner of that matchup looks like the perfect next step for Emmett. A victory over the winner of that fight should position him perfectly for a Top 5 fight, and the opportunity to solidify his credentials as a legitimate title threat.
With two-dollar-steak toughness and a pair of sledgehammers for hands, Emmett is going to be a tough test for anyone at the sharp end of the featherweight division. The biggest battle may actually face the matchmakers themselves, who will have to persuade a higher-ranked fighter to risk it all against the dangerous Californian.
I met Emmett during fight week ahead of his UFC debut in the Netherlands back in 2016, when he stepped in on short notice to face Jon Tuck in Rotterdam. His attitude back then was that he’d fight anyone prepared to stand across the cage from him. Now he’ll need to see that same attitude from a top featherweight contender, with one of them agreeing to risk their spot against one of the toughest, hardest-hitting ’45ers in the division.
Next: Farah Hannoun: Either Zabit Magomedsharipov or Yair Rodriguez works
Farah Hannoun: Either Zabit Magomedsharipov or Yair Rodriguez
Emmett is tired of having to fight guys behind him and I agree with him. Not only has Emmett been winning, he’s been doing it in impressive fashion, which makes him one of the more underrated featherweights in the division.
With Zabit Magomedsharipov and Yair Rodriguez expected to square off, I like Emmett vs. the winner. In the other 145 contenders’ fight of note, it’s projected to be Chan Sung Jung vs. Brian Ortega, which will likely, in my opinion, produce the next title challenger. That all depends on who comes out victorious from both the title fight and other matchups of course, but should the winner of Magomedsharipov and Rodriguez not get a title shot, I like Emmett vs. the winner.
Magomedsharipov is undeniably skilled, but has yet to wow us like we know he can. His decision win over Kattar left a lot of unanswered questions and if he’s matched up with Rodriguez, it should be a main event. Emmett will push Magomedsharipov’s gas tank with his constant pressure and power, which would be a good test for both.
Rodriguez is a bonus-producing machine which would make a matchup with Emmett very exciting. Rodriguez moves and evades well but is a risk taker, making for a wild affair with Emmett.
Both guys would definitely be a step up for Emmett but that’s the point. He wants that next step challenge and both guys would provide that for the knockout artist.
Next: Danny Segura: ‘Korean Zombie’ the best bet
Danny Segura: ‘Korean Zombie’ the best bet
Any guy in the division’s top five should work just fine, and that’s really what Emmett wants — someone with a good number. But I’d like to see if Emmet can put down the undead.
I know Chang Sung Jung has been linked to fight Brian Ortega for quite some time. There is a good rivalry brewing there, the two are top contenders, and they were supposed to fight back in December. However, Ortega is still young in the game, he took a beating in his last time out, he’s battled injuries in recent times, and he hasn’t fought since December 2018.
I think Ortega could use a tune-up fight rather than a jump back in the mix with the top dogs at featherweight. And at this point in time, Emmett is more deserving of the ‘Korean Zombie’ matchup than Ortega.
Emmett vs. Jung sounds like fun. Both fighters have fun striking styles and carry a good amount of power. They are certainly at the very top of the weight class but I do think they need a signature win to challenge for the belt.
Depending on how that matchup goes, it could give the UFC the next challenger at 145 pounds.
