Josh Emmett, the only UFC fighter to go the distance with Ilia Topuria, offers a unique perspective on the former featherweight champion`s move to the 155-pound division.
Topuria`s sole lightweight appearance in the UFC was in 2022 against Jai Herbert, a fight taken on short notice. While Topuria secured a spectacular knockout and a Performance of the Night bonus, he also experienced early difficulties when Herbert landed significant strikes.
Topuria has undoubtedly evolved since that fight, but Emmett, drawing from his own experience as a former lightweight, emphasizes the importance of size in the UFC, especially at 155 pounds.
“I definitely think bigger lightweights could present challenges for him,” Emmett commented on Topuria`s chances against larger opponents. “He`s naturally a smaller guy, shorter and less physically imposing. I believe I was either taller or the same height as him, but with a much bigger frame.”
To Topuria`s credit, he has often been the smaller, more compact fighter in his UFC bouts, yet he maintains an undefeated record with numerous impressive finishes.
In his last two fights alone, Topuria decisively defeated Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, widely considered two of the greatest featherweights ever, and now aims for similar success in the lightweight division.
“He`s incredibly well-rounded and technically skilled,” Emmett noted about Topuria. “He has a strong jiu-jitsu and wrestling base, but he`s also found great success with his striking. His boxing is very refined, and he hits hard. However, I`m curious to see how he fares against the top lightweights.”
“I anticipate he`ll do well, but I`m eager to see him matched up against the top three to five lightweights to assess how he stacks up. Those fighters are significantly larger and have bigger frames than him.”
Nevertheless, Emmett believes Topuria is taking the necessary steps to adapt to competing in a heavier weight class.
“Considering the timeframe, and knowing he took the Jai Herbert fight on short notice, if he has a proper training camp of three to four months, I believe he has a fantastic team, strength and conditioning coaches, and access to excellent resources,” Emmett stated. “I`m confident they`ll have him well-prepared and ready.”
Regarding his own career, Emmett is focused on returning to title contention as he prepares to face Lerone Murphy at UFC Vegas 105 on Saturday.
After taking 2024 off to recover and heal from lingering injuries, Emmett is eager to showcase an improved version of himself compared to the fighter who faced Topuria almost two years ago.
“I know many people wondered why I hadn`t fought since [2023], assuming I was undamaged. But my inner circle, friends, family, and coaches knew what I was dealing with. That`s why `Emmett 2.0` is here, ready to be unleashed on April 5th,” Emmett explained.
“In the biggest fights of my career, my life, the most crucial moments against opponents like Ilia, [Calvin] Kattar, and even [Bryce] Mitchell, I was competing at a fraction of my full potential. Now, I`m back to 100 percent. This isn`t the 25 or 30 percent Josh Emmett; it`s the 110 percent version, and you`ll see it on April 5th. I just need to go out there, defeat Murphy decisively, get my hand raised, and then I`d like to be in Miami the following weekend.”
