Josh Emmett isn’t happy with the UFC at the moment.
Emmett is coming off the biggest win of his career, winning a split decision over Calvin Katter at UFC Austin last month. With a win over a top-five contender, Emmett was hoping for a little love from the UFC, but unfortunately, he hasn’t received it.
In fact, he hasn’t received much at all. According to his coach Uriah Faber in an interview with MMA Junkie, the UFC didn’t give him cageside seats for the featherweight title fight at UFC 276 and left him in the nose bleeds with nothing.
I’m not going to change
In a recent interview with MMA on SiriusXM, Emmett said the UFC is a popularity contest but won’t change who he is to move up the line.
“I don’t feel like I have to cause noise but it’s like you said, I do feel like the UFC is a popularity contest. You know, instead of it being just sort of strictly merit-based – who should fight who. But no, I’m the same person I’ve always been and I’m not going to change,” Emmett said. “Like, I’m not going to do this crazy [act]. I know some of the fans or whatnot, they get a rise out of it, they enjoy it, but man, I can fight. So, every single time that I show up, or I’m on a card, the real fans that know about the UFC and know about me are excited because they know it’s not going to be a boring fight”
“People can’t say, oh, this guy can’t- I know the UFC cares a lot about numbers and I showed that. My last fight against Calvin Kattar in Austin, Texas, was the highest grossing Fight Night card in US history. We did over a $2.1 million gate and it was completely sold out. Most attendees in UFC history for a Fight Night card in the US as well. So it’s like, I’m going to be exciting. I will never give up, I will not cower away or back out or look for a way out, ever. I’m going to be excited to put on a show and I can sell tickets.”
Emmett isn’t wrong. The UFC sometimes chooses the more popular fighter over the more deserving fighter. However, with Emmett speaking out, hopefully, the UFC will come around. Most importantly, he has to hope Brian Ortega takes out Yair Rodriguez next weekend because if he does, there is no doubt that Emmett should be next.
"I'm gonna put on a show AND I can sell tickets."@JoshEmmettUFC says he doesn't think he needs to make 'noise' in order to get a title shot.
Josh talks championship clauses, title opportunities & Volkanovski's dominant #UFC276 win w/ @RJcliffordMMA ⬇️https://t.co/RyAEKajuBb pic.twitter.com/OqRwuhBX3H
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) July 6, 2022
