Josh Emmett seeks return to title picture at UFC on ABC 5 after 'big fail' vs. Yair Rodriguez

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Josh Emmett has nothing good to say about his performance against Yair Rodriguez for the interim featherweight title in February. Fortunately he knows he can take a big step toward rectifying things Saturday at UFC on ABC 5.

Emmett (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) suffered a second-round submission loss to Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) at UFC 284 in February in a fight that would’ve propelled him to a championship unification bout with Alexander Volkanovski this summer. There are no excuses to be made for the result, Emmett said, and the only important thing at this point, is that he’s turned the page.

“You’ve got to deal with the cards you’re dealt,” Emmett told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ABC 5 media day. “That was a sh*tty hand, and it was a sh*tty performance on my part. I give that nothing shorter than an F. It was a big fail. It just wasn’t my day, for whatever reason. I truly believe things happen for a reason, and it’s going to be that much sweeter when I climb back to the title. It’s part of my journey. I can’t dwell on my past because there’s going to be roadblocks in the way of my future.”

Emmett’s immediate future consists of a five-round showdown with unbeaten surging contender Ilia Topuria (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), which takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The hype around Topuria isn’t lost on Emmett, but that’s why he was down to accept this matchup, he said. He wants to show he still belongs in the upper echelon at 145 pounds, and that Topuria isn’t ready to hold that position just yet.

“I’m still ranked No. 5 in the world (in the UFC rankings),” Emmett said. “I’m fighting a tough opponent. So I just have to go out there, make a statement and then I’m right back in title contention and talks. Consistency is key, and here we are. I’m turning around and fighting four months later, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

“He’s in this position for a reason. He’s really well rounded, he’s good everywhere. But the holes that I do see in his game – I’m not going to tell you guys. You’re just going to have to watch June 24 and see how I do capitalize on that. But you never know. Everyone’s always the next champion or the next contender or the next big thing. This is going to be a tough, tough test for him.”

With the title unifier between Volkanovski and Rodriguez just around the corner at UFC 290 on July 8 in Las Vegas, the winner of the UFC on ABC 5 headliner is going to be well positioned to have significant investment in the outcome.

Emmett, 38, said he’s not giving energy to anything beyond stepping into the octagon on Saturday, though, because his name won’t be anywhere near the title conversation with a defeat.

“I’m solely focused on a tough, tough Ilia, and then I’m literally right back in the mix,” Emmett said. “And you never know what happens with the UFC and the division and injuries and things like that. I could be one one away after this for a title shot. Or hey, maybe, slide right into that title fight. You never know. But I have to beat him first.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.