The UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski better look out as there’s a new contender in town! Ilia Topuria took on Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Jacksonville on June 24. The featherweight contest was a highly-anticipated one as it had the potential to be a title eliminator. But, perhaps more than that, fans were more interested as it was going to be a banger of a fight!
WHAT A FIGHT, FOLKS!!!!!! 👏👏👏 #UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/lIgir9SW4s
— UFC (@ufc) June 24, 2023
It did not disappoint as Ilia Topuria put on a historic performance against Josh Emmett. According to UFC stats, Topuria landed 152 significant strikes during the fight with a total count of 171 strikes. Emmett, on the other hand, landed a total of 89 punches and but 87 of them were significant strikes. Despite such a high percentage of significant strikes, Josh Emmett still managed only half the amount Ilia Topuria landed.
EL MATADOR COMING FOR THAT NO. 5 SPOT 😤📈@TopuriaIlia with a boxing masterclass in our main event! #UFCJacksonville pic.twitter.com/i4KIlyvmyJ
— UFC (@ufc) June 24, 2023
Hence, many expected the Spanish-Georgian fighter to earn a dominant win. However, the scorecards were even more one-sided than anybody could have imagined. Judges Sal D’amato and Eric Colon scored the fight 44-50 and 45-49 respectively. However, Chris Lee scored the bout 42-50. He did not score a single round in favor of Emmett and scored rounds 3 and 4, 8-10, and 7-10 respectively. Hence, one can imagine the utter dominance of the “El Matador.”
As per WAY OF MARTIAL ARTS, the only other time there was a 10-7 round in UFC, took place between Forest Petz and Sammy Morgan at UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs Parisyan in August 2006.
Ilia Topuria calls for a title shot after beating Josh Emmett at UFC Jacksonville
After the culmination of the bout, the conversation naturally shifted toward title contention. Topuria beat Josh Emmett, who was the no. 5 ranked fighter in the division. With the champ, Alexander Volkanovski, set to defend his title soon at UFC 290 in a couple of weeks’ time against the interim-champ Yair Rodriguez, Topuria is going to have his eyes set on the bout. He also wants Volkanovski to win the fight so that he can have the title shot against the Aussie champ.
He said, “I’m the next guy without any doubt (I’m next in line)… And I want Alex to defend that belt and show to him and the whole world when his (title reign) gonna end and mine’s gonna start.”
Currently, Ilia Topuria’s unbeaten record stands at 14-0. With the impressive win against an incredibly tough Josh Emmett, Topuria seems to be heading toward a clash against the unified champ. With his immense power, slick striking, and amazing foot movement, Ilia Topuria is a legitimate threat to any fighter in the division and may very well have the UFC gold wrapped around his waist sooner than later.
