Mar 30, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Josh Emmett (red gloves) celebrates his win over Michael Johnson (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Wells Fargo Arena. Emmett won the fight. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Emmett eyes Alexander Volkanovski title fight in Australia: ‘There’s one fight left before you cleaned out the division’
Josh Emmett is hoping he will be next in line for Alexander Volkanovski.
Emmett is coming off a split decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC Austin and the win put him in title contention for a shot at featherweight gold. However, after Volkanovski dominated Max Holloway at UFC 276 and after the fight, he has talked about wanting to go to lightweight or face the winner of Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega. Yet, for Emmett, he makes it clear he wants the shot at the belt and will even go to Australia to make it happen.
“I know he’s been wanting to fight in Australia,” Emmett said on MMAJunkie Radio. “He gets to call the shots. They already know my answer. It would be an honor to fight Volkanovski. He is the best in the featherweight division and he is one of the pound-for-pound best, and that’s why I want to fight him. Because he’s the best, and I think I’m the best. There’s only one way to find out.”
Josh Emmett would be a fresh matchup for Alexander Volkanovski should the fight happen, and if it happens in Australia it would be a massive event. Along with that, the American makes it clear the champ has not cleared 0ut the division until he faces him and beats him.
“I know he was saying he cleaned out the division and I’m like, ‘Man, there’s one fight left before you cleaned out the division,’” Emmett said. “So that’s that. Let’s run that, then we’ll see what happens.”
Whether or not Emmett will get the next shot at Volkanovski is uncertain. The champ will need time off to heal his broken hand and once that happens, he could make the jump to lightweight or face the Rodriguez-Ortega winner. But, Emmett has made it clear he deserves to be next in line.
