UFC Jacksonville: Emmett vs Topuria – 6.23.2023 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

   Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Jacksonville: Emmett vs Topuria. We have an excellent card in store for this Saturday, broadcast live on ABC. Our analysis includes a pick for every bout from Dynes Sports contributors Anthony Marro and Nicholas Marro.

   As coverage continues, we will keep our records up to date below. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick though as records will not reflect confidence. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

• Anthony: 133-103-3 (Last Year 320-187-3, 63%)
• Nick: 151-85-3 (Last Year 324-183-3, 64%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 6-23-2023 at 9pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 11:30am EST

Cody Brundage -180 vs Sedriques Dumas +145

• Anthony: The card today opens with a bout at middleweight between Sedriques Dumas and Cody Brundage. Dumas fights out of Pensacola Florida and will certainly feel the home crowd’s support in Jacksonville. The fans may not be too rowdy with fights starting prior to noon but I still think Dumas benefits from the location of this booking. He is a very high level kickboxer that has proven talents on the feet. I very much like his speed and aggressive nature, I just find it difficult to back him as he was easily handled on the mat in his UFC debut. Dumas was finished by Josh Fremd, succumbing to his superior wrestling and a strong guillotine choke. Brundage trains very closely with Fremd at FactoryX while also possessing the same skill set of wrestling offensively. This is a fight that Dumas likely wins purely striking, but a few takedowns from Brundage should wear on his gas tank and see Dumas succumb once again. Brundage has very good top pressure when grappling and the ability to finish off chokes. I think he is physically stronger than Dumas and a very tough stylistic matchup. Cody Brundage by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Brundage has a powerful wrestling base and he does a good job pouring damage on his opponents if he can find himself in top position. He’s going to have a major wrestling advantage here, so it’s safe to expect he shoots for takedowns early and often against an effective striker in Sedriques Dumas. Dumas is an athletic striker at distance. He does a decent job moving in and out of his opponents range, he mixes in elbows well and has shown he can place a timely counter. He’s decent on the mat with a strong choke series, but he’s certainly going to look to keep this fight standing. Dumas is 7-1 professionally, coming off an ugly loss via submission to Josh Fremd which came in his UFC debut. His defensive grappling looked terrible in that fight, and this time he’s facing an even more competent wrestler in Brundage. Dumas is going to be the better striker here, and his reach could make it tough for Brundage to close distance. That being said, I do expect Brundage to secure the takedowns he needs to pull this one out. As long as he doesn’t get caught early I expect he can dominate on the mat and win via ground-and-pound. Cody Brundage by Round Two KO

Jamall Emmers -210 vs Jack Jenkins +165

• Anthony: Next is a matchup at featherweight between Jamall Emmers and Jack Jenkins. This is the second UFC appearance for Jack Jenkins who debuted in Perth Australia for the UFC 284 card. He is a well rounded and very well conditioned athlete, primarily looking to strike and land shots over the top. Jenkins does very well switching stances and certainly should land a healthy number of blows on Emmers here. I believe Emmers will fight a more steady match than Jenkins, utilizing his length and high output to lead the dance. Emmers lands more than five significant strikes per minute and I see shots really beginning to add up if Jenkins’ defense is not the best it’s ever been. I expect Emmers to prove Jenkins a tad fraudulent, having a resume littered with rather lackluster opponents. This is fresh off a performance by Emmers where Khusein Askhabov’s perfect record saw it’s first defeat. He has thus far proven to me that he belongs in this UFC octagon. Jamall Emmers by Decision 
• Nick: Jack Jenkins is coming off a UFC debut win over Don Shainis. He did well in that fight, but many expected he would finish Shainis as he was a -400 favorite. Jenkins is well-rounded and athletic with decent striking fundamentals, explosive power, and solid overall wrestling ability. He’s capable of weaponizing his cardio and taking fights over late, but we really haven’t seen him tested extensively against top level competition. Emmers is a rangy striker with surprising power for his frame. He’s decent on the feet, but he’s also a cerebral wrestler who has shown he can takedown a wide range of opponents. The one major knock on Emmers is his fighting IQ. He almost always seems to be winning fights early until he makes more decisions and gives them away. He’s coming off a solid decision win over a tough out in Khusein Askhabov, but he’s a difficult fighter to project moving forward. Jenkins’ greatest attack is his leg kick, which I fully expect he’ll try to rely on here early against Emmers. Emmers is certainly the more experienced fighter with the more well rounded game, but the value is on Jenkins. He should land the bigger strikes early and make this a close. Jack Jenkins by Decision

Trevor Peek -120 vs Jose Mariscal +100

• Anthony: I am very excited for this matchup between lightweights Trevor Peek and Jose Mariscal. It is the UFC debut for Chepe “Machine Gun” Mariscal who entered the promotion with some real hype behind him. He is a very active striker training with the Elevation Fight Team in Denver. He has very crisp hands and better technical boxing than his opponent Peek. Mariscal is very experienced with a perfect amateur record of 10-0. His professional resume is littered with big names such as Gregor Gillespie, Pat Sabatini, Youssef Zalal, Sean Soriano and Steve Garcia. I could see him finding a lot of success inside of the octagon, but Peek presents a difficult stylistic test in his debut. Mariscal has lost by knockout on three occasions and Peek is as heavy handed as anyone at 155 pounds. He has stopped all eight of his pro fights by KO inside of the first two rounds. This should be a firefight for as long as it lasts and I prefer to side with Peek given his crushing power. He has a stronger upper body than Mariscal and I see Peek imposing his will here today as these two exchange blows inside of the pocket. While I recommend a straight bet on Peek at these odds, his most likely path to victory comes via a quick stoppage. Trevor Peek by Round One KO
• Nick: Peek is 8-0 professionally, but he’s only been fighting as a pro since 2020. Peek is an extremely aggressive brawler who throws hooks from wild angles and chases KOs with reckless abandon. His skills are still far from refined, but he gets by on his outstanding chin, toughness, and overall athleticism. Chepe Mariscal will be making his UFC debut here, taking this fight on less than two weeks’ notice. He is coming off three straight wins via KO and he is 13-6 professionally. While his record is far from impressive for a debutant, most of his losses have come to current or former UFC talent. Mariscal had decent wrestling, but like Peek, he prefers to stand and trade. He’d be wise to lean on a more grappling heavy gameplan here against a fighter in Peek who is very dangerous on the feet. Peek is going to be the aggressor here, but he’ll need to be careful not to get caught with a counter or run into a takedown. This is easily the most volatile fight on the card and a very tough fight to call. I’ll take Peek here without much confidence as the bigger fighter coming in off a full fight camp. Mariscal typically fights at featherweight. Trevor Peek by Round One KO

Zhalgas Zhumagulov -200 vs Joshua Van +160

• Anthony: Next is a matchup at flyweight between Zhalgas Zhumagulov and Joshua Van. This is a bout made on short notice as Zhumagulov continues to suffer immense bad luck. The man has signed to fight four different opponents since the start of May and now finally gets to make another octagon appearance. He has suffered a loss by split decision in his previous two bouts, each extremely close fights that Zhumagulov had an argument to win. The competition has not been bad for Van fighting in Fury FC, but he certainly appears green as far as prospects go. I am not at all impressed with Van’s striking and I see him getting seriously outclassed on the feet here against Zhumagulov. At just 21 years of age, Van will struggle to match Zhumagulov’s physical strength and experience fighting fluidly in the pocket and in the clinch. I think there is a chance we see a back an forth decision today but ideally Zhalgas can put his combinations together and perhaps put Van away. He will be quick on the pressure in this fight and chopping the legs of his opponent. Zhalgas Zhumagulov by Round Three KO
• Nick: Joshua Van will be making his UFC debut here, as the FFC Flyweight Champion. He is 7-1 professionally, with five wins coming via KO and two coming via submission. He has been out of action since December of 2022, but at just 21-years old it’s safe to expect he made considerable improvements during his hiatus. Zhalgas Zhumagulov has an outstanding gas tank. He brings a relentless pace to the octagon, but he sometimes coasts through fights or waits for them to come to him. He’s well-rounded with a solid wrestling base and decent striking ability. He’s coming off three straight losses, but the most recent two were close decisions that could have gone either way. He is very likely to find himself cut from the roster if he can’t secure a win in this spot. Van is a talented young fighter, but he represents a major step down in competition for Zhumagulov here. This should be competitive, but I expect Zhumagulov to pull away late. Zhalgas Zhumagulov by Round Three KO

Tabatha Ricci -135 vs Gillian Robertson +110

• Anthony: Next is a bout at women’s strawweight between Gillian Robertson and Tabatha Ricci. I am expecting a fun clash between grapplers here as two BJJ black belts go head to head. Robertson has been a force in this division for some time, accruing seven UFC wins by way of submission. Her most recent win came by armbar facing Piera Rodriguez in April. Robertson is not generally somebody to test oneself against on the mat, but I do see Ricci attempting takedowns here today. Baby Shark has scored at least four takedowns in each of her previous three fights. She is on a 3-0 run in the UFC, pairing excellent offensive jiu jitsu with an elite judo base. I find it very unlikely that she can submit Gillian Robertson, but Ricci should be able to get into dominant grappling positions and control a majority of this fight. She is a more aggressive striker than Robertson and likely to land more total shots here over the course of fifteen minutes. I am not going to bet much on Ricci today but I do like her chances of winning at near pick’em. Tabatha Ricci by Decision 
• Nick: Ricci was steamrolled in her UFC debut against Manon Fiorot, but it’s tough to get down on her for that performance as Fiorot is one of the more promising prospects in this division. She has since secured impressive wins over Maria Oliviera and Polyana Viana, and most recently Jessica Penne. As a result of her recent success, it seems the UFC is starting to put their marketing machine behind her. Ricci has solid cardio and can fight at a very fast pace. She’s well-rounded, but her BJJ ability is her most refined skill. Her wrestling and striking continue to show considerable improvement in each of her fights. Gillian Robertson is outstanding on the mat, with nine of her twelve professional wins coming via submission. Her striking continues to improve, and having recently moved down to strawweight she’s no longer outsized by the majority of her opponents. On the mat, Robertson should have a considerable technical advantage here. That being said, she’s going to need to be careful as Ricci is likely going to push the pace and try to swarm her. This is a low confidence play, but I’m siding with Ricci. She should have a slight striking advantage and her defensive grappling should be solid enough to avoid being submitted. Tabatha Ricci by Decision

Mateusz Rebecki -140 vs Loik Radzhabov +115

• Anthony: This should be a very fun bout at lightweight with Mateusz Rebecki facing Loik Radzhabov. I had been contemplating a fade on Rebecki this fight week with fear he is being a bit overvalued. The last performance against Nick Fiore certainly was solid but I fear Radzhabov is a much tougher test, especially when it comes to grappling. Radzhabov landed eleven takedowns in his promotional debut and I very much believe in his skillset more than that of Rebecki. His resume is littered with much more complete opponents and overall I find him the more productive over the course of fifteen minutes. Look for Rebecki to steal moments in this matchup with his grappling and over course his great hands while Radzhabov proves to fight the steadier and more consistent fight. I do have some concerns backing Radzhabov after he missed weight yesterday but nonetheless I see value betting him as the dog here. This is likely to be a fight that goes to the judge’s decision. Loik Radzhabov by Decision 
• Nick: Prior to his entering the UFC, Loik Radzhabov had notable wins over Akhmed Aliev, Chris Wade, and Alex Martinez. He’s most recently coming off a solid win over Esteban Ribovics in his UFC debut, improving his professional record to 17-4. Radzhabov is primarily a grappler. He is a competent technical striker who can be dangerous on the feet, but in most of his wins we see him controlling his opponents both on the mat and up against the cage. Rebecki is 17-1 professionally, and the former FEN Lightweight Champion. He is coming off a convincing decision win over Nick Fiore in his UFC debut. Rebecki is a gifted grappler with solid striking ability and a seemingly very high Fight IQ. He makes effective decisions in the heat of battle, he does a good job capitalizing on the weaknesses of his opponents and he’s very strong for the division. This is another close fight, but I see Rebecki as the rightful favorite. He’s the superior grappler in this match-up with the superior gas tank. Mateusz Rebecki by Decision

Randy Brown -235 vs Wellington Turman +185

• Anthony: Wellington Turman will be facing Randy Brown next at welterweight. Brown had been on an impressive streak winning six of seven fights before running into Jack Della Maddalena earlier this year. In my eyes, Brown is still an elite fighter in this division. Della Maddalena is developing into a true title contender and there is no shame in losing to an opponent like him. Turman is extremely volatile and I doubt Brown meets similar resistance in the matchup here today. The Brazilian offers little in terms of sophisticated striking, largely relying on his jiu jitsu to win the bouts he can. Brown benefits from a six-inch edge in reach here and likely picks apart Turman from distance if he so chooses. I will likely have some action on Brown in this spot but the odds do seem a tad juicy. I just find it very unlikely Turman is to get his hand raised with his only UFC wins thus far coming over terrible competition. Randy Brown by Decision
• Nick: Turman is a decent grappler, but he hasn’t really exhibited much of a Fight IQ. His durability is questionable at best and we haven’t really seen his cardio hold up at this level. He has some power on the feet, but he telegraphs his strikes and defensively he struggles at times as he leaves himself open to counter shots. That being said, there is no denying the fact he has shown considerable improvements since he began training under Glover Teixiera. At just 26-years old he should continue to show dramatic improvements in all facets of his game. Brown is extremely well-rounded with KO power and underrated BJJ ability. He’s very light on his feet, with excellent head movement and solid overall striking defense. He works well behind his jab, and he uses his length more effectively than most other fighters with his frame. Brown is going to have a considerable technical advantage here when this fight is standing. He could be in trouble if Turman can take him down, but I expect Brown can strike at distance until he finds a shot to close this one. Randy Brown by Round Two KO

Neil Magny -170 vs Phil Rowe +140

• Anthony: The featured prelim comes at welterweight today with Philip Rowe set to face Neil Magny. Nobody in UFC history has more wins than Neil Magny does at 170 pounds. The longtime veteran continues to earn wins year after year, facing the absolute best of this division. Rowe shares a very similar build to Magny, standing at 6’3 with a reach of 80-inches. While billed as a grappler entering the promotion, Rowe has now won three straight fights by knockout. He uses his length very well and lands more than half his strikes attempted. Magny is a big step up in competition for Rowe but it is certainly a matchup where he may excel. I just see Magny’s veteran savvy being the deciding factor. Perhaps nobody uses the cage quite as well as Magny to accrue control time and dictate grappling exchanges. He should stay a step ahead of Rowe here, leaning on his cardio and dogged pressure to get his hand raised. Magny fights far more effectively than Rowe when in the clinch. While this should be viewed as a close fight on paper, Rowe is certainly up against it facing a man with thirty appearances inside of the UFC octagon. At these odds I will be betting on Magny with confidence. Rowe made weight successfully for this occasion but it appeared to be after a tough cut per usual. Neil Magny by Decision
• Nick: Magny is a rangy striker who arguably does his best work in the clinch.He has a seemingly infinite gas tank and he’s shown an uncanny ability to wear on his opponents and take over as his fights wear on. Magny has solid grappling ability, but he can struggle to get back to his feet once he’s grounded. Rowe is certainly a well-rounded fighter on paper, now coming off three consecutive victories. He has a ridiculous 80.5-inch reach as one of the tallest welterweights on the UFC roster. If this fight only takes on the feet Rowe has a good chance to pull off the upset. However, it seems more likely Magny will lean on a grappling heavy game plan as he weaponizes his cardio. Rowe won’t have the usual reach advantage he does in this one, and Magny has the much better durability and cardio. This will be a competitive fight when these two are striking, but I see Magny out-wrestling him and grinding Rowe out up against the cage. Neil Magny by Decision

Main Card- Starts 3:00pm EST

Brendan Allen -195 vs Bruno Silva +160

• Anthony: The main card opens with middleweights Brendan Allen and Bruno Silva. This is a good clash of styles with Silva a very potent finisher on the feet. He is excellent at stringing together combinations and I see him having a decisive advantage in power against Allen. We have seen drastic improvements in Allen’s striking these past few camps but he is still doing a majority of his damage utilizing world class offensive grappling. Allen is now a winner of five straight fights with the previous two by way of rear naked choke. He will likely find his way to the back of the slower and shorter Silva here, making him the rightful favorite. We have seen Allen rocked on the feet before so while Silva’s chances of winning are slim, landing a knockout seems possible. I won’t be investing much in Allen here today but I do expect him to extend this winning streak. Brendan Allen by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Bruno Silva carries massive power in his strikes with twenty of his twenty-three professional victories coming by way of KO. He’s a decent grappler with dangerous BJJ, but he doesn’t really have the cardio to exchange in aggressive grappling exchanges offensively. Twelve of Allen’s twenty-one professional wins have come via submission. He has excellent BJJ, with a solid wrestling base, but he makes questionable decisions in many of his fights. He often plays into the strengths of his opponents and he seems overly emotional at times as he engages in brawls. His striking continues to show improvements, which isn’t surprising as he recently shifted to an excellent camp in Kill Cliff FC. He’s coming off a career best win over Andre Muniz, a fight in which he weaponized his cardio and dominated Muniz everywhere that fight went. Silva could pull off an upset via KO here, but Allen should have a considerable advantage on the mat. As long as he’s defensively sound early I expect he finds the takedowns he needs to secure a submission. Brendan Allen by Round Two Submission

Gabriel Santos -235 vs David Onama +185

• Anthony: Next is a tough fight to call at featherweight between Gabriel Santos and David Onama. This bout has likely been elevated to the main card because of the fun style these fighter’s possess. Onama has a very fan friendly style, throwing high octane attacks and having no fear to exchange with his opponents. He has shown to be rather susceptible to wrestling pressure and I find it likely Santos looks to grapple Onama here. However, this is likely a Fight of the Night candidate if these two do stand and trade. Santos has a very steady work rate and great success leading the dance on the feet. He puts in excellent work to the body of his opponents while Onama prefers to invest in attacks at the legs and the noggin. I am not supporting a bet on Satos at odds this wide but I do see him as having the better skill set of these two on paper. He has proven to be a bit quicker than Onama and more economical managing his cardio. Gabriel Santos by Decision
• Nick: Gabriel Santos is a former LFA Featherweight Tournament Champion. Prior to his promotion to the UFC, he had notable wins over José Delano, Elvis Brener, and Márcio Barbosa. At just 26-years old he’s already putting together a decent resume and while he lost his debut to Lerone Murphy, he gave an excellent showing of himself against an extremely tough opponent and many felt he was actually robbed of a win in that match-up. Santos is aggressive on the feet. He does a good job setting traps for his opponents and he’s shown an advanced ability to string together effective combinations. He’s a solid grappler both offensively and defensively, and his speed and overall agility should continue to prove advantageous for him as he climbs the rankings at 145 lbs. David Onama is a dangerous striker with explosive combinations and excellent footwork. He does a good job mixing in shots to the body to slow his opponents down, he works well at range and he’s shown continued improvements in his grappling abilities as well. He is mostly recently coming off a hard fought loss to Nate Landwehr, a fight in which he showed excellent durability but suspect striking defense and fight IQ. Onama has been out of action since August of 2022, but that was mostly due to his opponents pulling out with injuries. Onama is dangerous, but I see Santos as the more well-rounded fighter and potent finisher. He should stay a step ahead here no matter where this one goes. Gabriel Santos by Round Three KO

Justin Tafa -185 vs Austen Lane +150

• Anthony: Today’s featured bout is a heavyweight contest between Justin Tafa and Austen Lane. Despite the newcomer having more professional experience, I find this rather lopsided matchmaking with Tafa the far more technically skilled. Lane is on a six fight winning streak, but his wins have come against very low level competition. He is a lengthy heavyweight with good power and speed, just limited Fight IQ and durability. He is largely getting the call to compete at this event due to his roots in Jacksonville Florida. The former football player was drafted by the Jaguars in 2010. Tafa is a very crisp kickboxer with power that certainly exceeds that of Lane. I expect Tafa to fight as he has in both previous appearances, chucking leather early and searching for a finish. Lane cannot get caught when these shots begin to land as Tafa will almost certainly connect clean before he finds himself able to land. Tafa has the much better kicks and counters, making this a rather easy selection for me. He weighed twenty pounds heavier than Lane yesterday, probably a considerable amount more so today. Justin Tafa by Round One KO 
• Nick: This is a low-level match-up featuring two plodding heavyweights. Justin Tafa had a lot of hype coming into the promotion, but he has been mostly a disappointment so far. He has knockout power, but his cardio is suspect and he hasn’t really shown technical boxing ability on the level of other up-and-comers in this division. He is coming off an impressive KO win over Parker Porter, but when he doesn’t find early KOs his gas tank can deplete rather quickly. Austen Lane will be making his UFC debut here, coming off six consecutive wins via finish. He most recently secured a win via KO on Contender Series over Richard Jacobi, but he’s been out of action since September of 2022. Lane is athletic for the division as a former NFL defensive lineman. He throws powerful strikes, he has decent offensively grappling ability, but his skills are still rough around the edges as he’s starting his MMA career on the back half of his athletic prime. Lane will have a chance here if he can mix in some grappling and extend this fight into the later rounds. That being said, it seems far more likely Tafa catches him early. Justin Tafa by Round One KO

Amanda Ribas -200 vs Maycee Barber +160

• Anthony: The co-main event is a flyweight matchup between Amanda Ribas and Maycee Barber. I am expecting a very close scrap here today between two legitimate top fifteen fighters. Barber has now won four fights in a row, mixing much improved striking offense with an average of one takedown landed per fight. Ribas should have a decisive edge grappling here given her world clash jiu jitsu, yet I do not see Barber being a fish out of water if this matchup is to hit the mat. While Ribas is extremely dangerous in prolonged grappling exchanges, we have seen Barber fare well defending attempted submissions before. I also find her edge striking rather decisive, having much more power in her hands than Amanda Ribas. I was a fan of Ribas much more at 115 pounds and while the move to flyweight seems to have been successful, Barber has the physical strength to keep this fight at the range she decides. I am going to side with her here, winning a razor thin decision. Maycee Barber by Decision
• Nick: Maycee Barber was once a highly regarded prospect who hit a bit of a wall back in 2020. She tore her ACL, falling as a massive favorite to Roxanne Modafferi and then dropped another decision to Alexa Grasso when she made her return in 2021. She has since regained some of her hype and momentum as she’s strung together four consecutive wins. She most recently took out Andrea Lee in a narrow decision, a hard fought fight in which many felt she should have been handed a loss. Ribas is a fan-favorite as an aggressive fighter with outstanding offensive grappling ability. She is a black belt in BJJ, with five of her twelve professional victories coming by way of submission. Her striking continues to improve, but she’s very hittable in exchanges and the strength of her chin is questionable at best. She’s coming off a career best win over Viviane Araujo via decision, a fight in which her striking defense seemed to have significantly improved. I could certainly see this one going either way, but I side with Ribas as the superior grappler. Barber’s takedown defense remains her Achilles heel. Amanda Ribas by Decision

Illia Topuria -350 vs Josh Emmett +275

• Anthony: The main event is an awesome scrap between featherweights Josh Emmett and Illia Topuria. This could prove to be the coming out party for Topuria who has been a monster thus far in the UFC. The undefeated fighter has won by stoppage in four straight fights and will once again be looking to fight aggressively with Emmett today. Emmett is a punishing boxer with killer power in his overhand. He certainly possesses top level skills but Emmett’s last performance facing Yair Rodriguez left a lot to be desired. Topuria can fight with similar volume and forward pressure to Yair, but does leave a bit to be desired technically. His offensive striking is phenomenal but Topuria does sometimes tend to overextend himself. It seems risky to lay such wide odds on the favorite but Topuria does figure to have a decisive edge on the mat. His ability to wrestle and defend shots won him a bout with Bryce Mitchell and I could see Topuria relying on his grappling even more today. He should have the edge rolling with Emmett on the mat and wearing on him as this fight goes late. Emmett is not typically quite as quick or effective in round three as he is in one and two. With a full twenty five minutes to work I expect to see a showcase performance from Topuria today, further vaulting him up the 145 pound rankings. Illia Topuria by Round Three Submission
• Nick: Topuria comes into this fight with a lot of momentum at an undefeated 13-0. He is an aggressive striker who packs a lot of power in his punches. He throws extremely fast combinations and his overall explosiveness has many calling him a future top contender. As good of a striker as he is, Topuria is a black belt with eight of his thirteen wins coming via submission. His scrambling ability is excellent, which is likely going to be important here against a competent wrestler in Emmett. He most recently secured an impressive submission win over one of the division’s best grapplers in Bryce Mitchell. If he can secure a dominant win in this match-up, many expect he’ll be next in line for a title shot at featherweight. Josh Emmett is mostly known for his tremendous KO power on the feet, but he’s also a decent grappler with a powerful wrestling base and technically sound takedown entries. He likes to switch stances when he’s striking. He can be fairly plodding and he telegraphs many of his shots, but he has true one-shot power in both of his hands. Emmett should be the better grappler here, but if he wrestles extensively it could compromise his gas tank. He’s most recently coming off a rough submission loss to Yair Rodriguez, and many are now questioning his durability as he recently turned 38-years old. The line is far too wide here as Emmett has true one shot KO power. However, Topuria is the side. He’s the better technical boxer and I expect he’ll be the aggressor here. Emmett doesn’t seem to want to wrestle at this point in his career, and Topuria continues to show solid defensive grappling ability. Illia Topuria by Round Three KO

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com

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