Jamall Emmers says UFC 295 win that much sweeter remembering those who laughed at him

NEW YORK – Jamall Emmers beat Dennis Buzukja with a first-round TKO Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Take a look inside the fight with Emmers, who jerked the curtain in quick and thrilling fashion, but was ineligible for a post-fight bonus because he missed weight.

Dennis Buzukja vs. Jamall Emmers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Jamall Emmers and Dennis Buzukja embrace following their afeatherweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Result: Jamall Emmers def. Dennis Buzukja via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:49
Updated records: Emmers (20-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Buzukja (11-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Key stats: Emmers got his first UFC finish and the third sub-1 minute win of his career.

Emmers on the fight's key moment

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Jamall Emmers punches Dennis Buzukja in a featherweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“When I started camp, it just felt right, like everything was clicking early, like I’m picking up on things a lot faster, like stuff’s just starting to connect a lot quicker. All I had to do was just press play when I got into the cage, and that’s what happened.”

EMMERS STARTS OFF #UFC295 WITH A BANG 💥

Stream #UFC295 NOW on ESPN+ ▶️ https://t.co/2KZBNgp0yD pic.twitter.com/oV8S34pylY

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 11, 2023

Emmers on fighting in MSG

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Jamall Emmers celebrates defeating Dennis Buzukja in a featherweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“It took a long time to get here – a very long time. I had to sacrifice a decade away from my family, but I get to fight in Madison Square Garden. It’s just a lot. I feel like I’m living a dream, and I get to do it with people I respect and I love, so that’s amazing, too. I’m on Cloud 9. I’m a part of history. I’m just happy to be here.

“I’m still in shock. Coming from where I come from, I remember telling people my dream and they laughed in my face. I got ridiculed because I wanted to do something different from what everybody else was doing. Growing up in Miami, nobody did martial arts. Nobody wrestled. They played football or ran track. I remember when I first started to wrestle, nobody would show up to the meets. Now I’m in Madison Square Garden and I’ve got people from all over the world looking at me. It’s just amazing. It took a while, but it finally happened where I can show the world my art.”

Emmers on what he wants next

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Jamall Emmers celebrates defeating Dennis Buzukja in a featherweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“I’ve just got to beat the right guys. It’s not about beating five guys and getting to the top 10 guy. I’ve got to just get the right fights. If I get the right fights, I can move up a lot quicker. That’s the goal.”

To hear more from Emmers, check out the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.