UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Josh Emmett outlasts Calvin Kattar as card ties record number of KO
UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Josh Emmett outlasts Calvin Kattar as card ties record number of KO
Heading into the UFC Fight Night featherweight main event between Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett, the fans in Austin
Heading into the UFC Fight Night featherweight main event between Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett, the fans in Austin
Texas, had been spoiled by a record-tying night of eight knockouts. Then Kattar and Emmett engaged in a bloody
Texas, had been spoiled by a record-tying night of eight knockouts. Then Kattar and Emmett engaged in a bloody
tactical battle over five rounds that ended with Emmett winning a split decision.
tactical battle over five rounds that ended with Emmett winning a split decision.
The fight was a battle of Kattar's long, straight punches against Emmett's explosive and looping power shots
The fight was a battle of Kattar's long, straight punches against Emmett's explosive and looping power shots
From the opening moments of the fight, it was clear that the man who could lead the forward engagement would be the fighter doing the more effective work.
From the opening moments of the fight, it was clear that the man who could lead the forward engagement would be the fighter doing the more effective work.
In the first two rounds, that edge was held by Emmett as he launched overhand rights and left hooks to the body that repeatedly sent Kattar onto his back foot and stumbling backward into the cage.
In the first two rounds, that edge was held by Emmett as he launched overhand rights and left hooks to the body that repeatedly sent Kattar onto his back foot and stumbling backward into the cage.
Kattar seemed to make the necessary adjustments over the second half of the fight
Kattar seemed to make the necessary adjustments over the second half of the fight
using a stiff jab and step-in elbows to open a deep cut over Emmett's left eye. Down the stretch
using a stiff jab and step-in elbows to open a deep cut over Emmett's left eye. Down the stretch
Kattar had a clear edge in the number of strikes landed
Kattar had a clear edge in the number of strikes landed
but Emmett remained dangerous as he continued to land plenty of his own bombs and bloodying Kattar's nose and causing significant swelling around his eye.
but Emmett remained dangerous as he continued to land plenty of his own bombs and bloodying Kattar's nose and causing significant swelling around his eye.
It appeared the fight could go either way at the conclusion of five very close rounds.
It appeared the fight could go either way at the conclusion of five very close rounds.
Ultimately, two of the three judges rewarded the power of Emmett's shots over the output of Kattar, awarding Emmett the fight by scores of 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47.
Ultimately, two of the three judges rewarded the power of Emmett's shots over the output of Kattar, awarding Emmett the fight by scores of 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47.
Emmett entered the fight at No. 7 in the UFC's official rankings and knocked off the No. 4 fighter in Kattar
Emmett entered the fight at No. 7 in the UFC's official rankings and knocked off the No. 4 fighter in Kattar
That was enough to lead Emmett to appeal to UFC president Dana White for a title shot at the winner of the UFC 276 featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champ Max Holloway.
That was enough to lead Emmett to appeal to UFC president Dana White for a title shot at the winner of the UFC 276 featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champ Max Holloway.
"There's a huge title fight in two weeks," Emmett said. "I'm going to be sitting cageside to see who I've got next. Dana, give me my shot."
"There's a huge title fight in two weeks," Emmett said. "I'm going to be sitting cageside to see who I've got next. Dana, give me my shot."
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