UFC Jacksonville: Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena; Jacksonville, Florida
Watching a fighter climb to the top of the heap is one of the most enjoyable things in combat sports. And in keeping his “0”, in a dominating main event Ilia Topuria proves he belongs. Although it was his first-time in that slot. In just his sixth UFC fight he stepped up and dismatled veteran Josh Emmett to a 50-44, 50-42, 49-45 unanimous decision.
But it was Emmett looking to pressure the 26-year old early. Until the faster hand speed of “El Matador” started to take over. The pinpoint boxing jab started to swell Emmett’s left eye, while he rolled with the punches coming back at him. As Emmett circled on the outside, Topuria cut the cage off effectively. And then he started to chop away at his lead leg. For a while it looked like the duo were rock em sock em robots.
Emmett was getting picked apart at will like a cat playing with his food. Although this meal thanks to his ultra toughness tried valiantly to fight back. Even after being questioned by the cageside doctor also. Topuria, sensing he couldn’t end it on the feet; turned to his grappling, dragging Emmett down three-times in the final round. And that came after a fourth-round of heavy ground-and-pound from boxing knockdowns.
Ilia Topuria Proves He Belongs… But There’s Still A Long Way To Go
Post fight, he admitted he wanted the next title shot after Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez unify the featherweight strap in two-weeks. While his tools are abundant, should that happen? This was his first walk in deep waters. But the higher up he goes, the tougher it gets. With the exception of maybe the sliding Brian Ortega.
A fight with “The Great” would be just as tough as this one. If not moreso. The champion has less quit in him than Emmett, and he has a better chin. The closest to a coin-flip would be the fight going to the ground. Ideally there should be an in between fight. With present bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling admitting he’s moving up, that might be the best welcoming fight.
“Aljo” has the takedowns and the wrestling to suffocate Topuria. Especially with a big body length advantage. But Topuria’s crisp boxing could put Sterling in serious trouble if he could get on the inside. As for Emmett; it looked like he might call it a career. And although he didn’t, it now has to be part of the conversation. Which one has to ask, is he the lighter weight version of COWBOY CERRONE; solid, tough, just not enough to get over the hump.
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