Josh Emmett’s case for a UFC featherweight title shot got significantly more grounded on Saturday, as he got a parted choice over Calvin Kattar in the headliner of UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas.
Emmett (18-2) went after Kattar (23-6) with winging right hands and body shots throughout a volatile five-round battle. Every one of the three adjudicators’ scorecards were close. Two authorities granted the 145-pound battle 48-47 to Emmett, who went in as the wagering longshot. A third saw it 48-47 for Kattar.
Albeit the battle was without a doubt close, creating an extensive variety of fan scores via web-based entertainment, Emmett said he was certain about the outcome. Current hero Alexander Volkanovski is booked to protect his belt against Max Holloway at UFC 276 on July 2 in Las Vegas, and Emmett requested an opportunity to confront the champ.
“I assumed I had it four [rounds] to one,” Emmett said. “I accept [a title shot ought to be next]. Calvin Kattar was positioned No. 4. Take a gander at the folks he has battled. Holloway and Volkanovski are ostensibly the absolute best featherweights ever, yet they need some fresh blood and I can make it happen.”
Saturday’s challenge essentially played out like a bout, as neither one of the featherweights hoped to use leg kicks or takedowns. Kattar’s best weapon was his punch, which he reliably arrived all through the battle. He opened a cut over Emmett’s left eye with the punch early, and opened it further with an elbow in the fourth round.
Emmett, of Sacramento, went about his best responsibilities at short reach. He really went to Kattar’s body during the center adjusts and constrained him in reverse on occasion with the overhand right. In any event, when Kattar hindered the shots, they had noticeable load behind them.
In the fifth, Emmett pick and picked his spots and blitzed Kattar with mixes, while Kattar attempted to avoid things at all costs to land his poke.
Emmett has won five in succession. Just Volkanovski (9), Arnold Allen (9) and Bryce Mitchell (6) have longer dynamic win streaks in the division.