It will be No 5 vs No 9 in the UFC featherweight division this weekend, as Josh Emmett faces Ilia Topuria in a Fight Night main event.
Emmett, 38, is looking to bounce back from a tough loss, having been submitted by Yair Rodriguez in February as the pair fought for the interim title. Prior to that defeat, however, Emmett was on a fine win streak, and the American might even re-enter the title picture with an impressive win on Saturday.
He faces a tough test in Topuria, though, with the 26-year-old entering Jacksonville this weekend with a 13-0 professional record, including 12 stoppage wins. Most recently, the Georgian overcame Bryce Mitchell in December, stunning the submission specialist by forcing him to tap out. With that win, Topuria entered the top 10 at featherweight, and he can take another step forwards this weekend.
An undisputed champion will be crowned in July, when Rodriguez challenges official champion Alexander Volkanovski, and the winner of Saturday’s main event may even mark themselves out as the next contender for the gold.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is it?
The event will take place on Saturday 24 June, at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
The prelims are set to begin at 4.30pm BST (8.30am PT, 10.30am CT, 11.30am ET). The main card is then due to follow at 8pm BST (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET).
How can I watch it?
The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Topuria – 5/2
Emmett – 30/100
Full card (subject to change)
Main card
Josh Emmett vs Ilia Topuria (featherweight)
Amanda Ribas vs Maycee Barber (women’s flyweight)
Austen Lane vs Justin Tafa (heavyweight)
David Onama vs Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
Brendan Allen vs Bruno Silva (middleweight)
Prelims
Neil Magny vs Phil Rowe (welterweight)
Randy Brown vs Wellington Turman (welterweight)
Mateusz Rebecki vs Loik Radzhabov (lightweight)
Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight)
Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs Joshua Van (flyweight)
Trevor Peek vs Victor Martinez (lightweight)
Jamall Emmers vs Jack Jenkins (featherweight)
Tatsuro Taira vs Kleydson Rodrigues (flyweight)
Cody Brundage vs Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
