Ilia Topuria solidified himself as a top contender for years to come at UFC Jacksonville. Coming off a dominant submission win over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 282, Topuria got a chance at top-ranked featherweight Josh Emmett. Topuria took the opportunity and ran with it, shutting Emmett out for 5 rounds and claiming a unanimous decision.
Ilia Topuria Dominates Former Title Challenger
The fight started with Emmett moving in with heavy shots, many of which were blocked or missed. Topuria stayed on his back foot, making reads and throwing counters when Emmett missed. He then started to put on the pressure and exchange in the pocket, continuing to land counters. Topuria kept his foot on the gas for the rest of the round, pressuring Emmett against the cage while landing counters at every opportunity given.
Emmett landed multiple clean punches while working the body to start Round 2. He started to use his leg kicks but was quickly countered by a big right hand that caught his attention. A blitz attempt by Emmett was met by multiple hard right hands that backed him away. Emmett found some success with the wide left hook, but Ilia managed to use leg kicks to swing the momentum back in his favor. Topuria then upped the volume, cracking Emmett before dropping him with a vicious three-punch combination.
Topuria tried to continue the onslaught but Emmett landed a beautiful trip to create some distance. Remaining calm, Ilia fired some hard leg kicks before catching Emmett with an overhand right. Emmett stumbled from the shot and Topuria took his back, landing massive hooks before the close of the round.
The third round also showed some success for Josh Emmett, as the left hook and leg kicks landed more frequently. With around 3 minutes left in the round, the two got into a massive exchange that Emmett got the better of. He followed with a big right hand that got the crowd’s attention. Topuria then calmed down and controlled the rest of the round with his 1-2 and leg kicks. Emmett attempted some hard shots before the bell but nothing landed clean enough.
10-7 Round?
The most action-packed round of the fight, Round 4 brought multiple near-fight-ending moments. Topuria picked up right from round 3, utilizing his jab to control the fight. Ilia showed off amazing defensive skills throughout the fight, moving away from and blocking incoming punches fluently. He then threw a hard leg kick that knocked Emmett off his feet. It was clear Emmett’s legs were in big trouble at that point, especially after Ilia landed hard on them again. With around 80 seconds left in the round, a check left hook counter by Topuria sent Emmett to the canvas. While trying to get up he was caught by a big right hand, sitting him back down. Emmett ate some massive ground and pound before somehow getting back to his feet just to be put back down seconds later. The round finished with Topuria on top, and the fight nearly stopped.
The 5th round started with the doctor checking on Emmett’s eye, but the fight continued. Emmett came out very hot to start the round, landing a big left hand and backing Topuria down. Ilia was able to settle back in and control the final few minutes with his wrestling after landing a takedown.
The scorecards were read without question of a winner. Topuria secured a wide victory on all three cards, 50-44, 49-45, and 50-42, with the latter being one of the most dominant ever seen in the UFC. Topuria expressed anger with his performance, preferring an early finish, but you can’t be upset with that display of dominance.
What’s Next?
With the win, Topuria should move to at least #5 in the featherweight rankings. He’s interested in nothing but a title shot following the performance, and rightfully so. However, he did say that he’s willing to accept a fight with Max Holloway on one condition. If the winner of Volkanovski-Rodriguez is next for Ilia, I could only imagine the entertainment the fight would bring. Regardless of who’s next for Ilia Topuria, there is no argument that he’s must-see TV at this point and a serious title contender.
UFC Fighters React
Almost everyone had something to say about Ilia’s highlight-filled victory over Josh Emmett. These were some of the highlights from those reactions:
What did you think of Ilia’s shutout performance over Josh Emmett? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images
