LAS VEGAS – Josh Emmett defeated Shane Burgos via unanimous decision Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 11 at the UFC Apex.
Take a look inside the fight with Emmett, who picked up his third straight win, and his second successive post-fight bonus, after his Fight of the Night victory over Burgos.
Result: Josh Emmett def. Shane Burgos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Updated records: Shane Burgos (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Josh Emmett (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC)
Key stat: In a fight that was separated by just one significant strike, (Emmett’s 127 to Burgos’ 128) it was Emmett’s two big knockdowns that sealed victory with a decisive final round.
Emmett on changing his gameplan
“In my mind, I’m a tough critic on myself. I didn’t get to move. I didn’t get to do what I wanted to do. I use a lot of movement, a lot of lateral movement and I really wanted to mix up the wrestling and do things, and I hurt my knee in the first 45 seconds. So I felt I had to stand there and play ‘sock ’em, rock ’em robots’ and just slip and rip. I dunno. People are saying it’s a good fight, I guess, but I didn’t get to scratch the surface of what I’m capable of.
“A lot of journalists and all these guys that are always counting me out and stuff. I see everything. I love it, though, because everyone’s saying I’m gonna lose, I’m gonna do this stuff. I can beat anyone in the world, and that was a horrible fight, in my opinion.”
Emmett on suffering the knee injury
“I think I over-committed to a right hand and I think he kicked my knee as I was coming in and it hyperextended it. It had to be the first minute. Right when I went to hold it, and then I stepped back, it just kept buckling and giving out. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I know it’s on the outside – I believe it’s my ACL, that’s what’s going through my mind. But yeah, I couldn’t move. … I just had to stand there and throw jabs and overhand rights.
“The first thing going through my mind is like, ‘OK, this hurts. I can’t move. I’m going to have to adapt to it.’ I feel like my mentality is the strongest part of my game and I’m willing to go through hell. I’m willing to go through anything to get my hand raised and I was just like, ‘I’m not going home with one check.’”
Emmett on wanting more respect – and a UFC push
“I want to keep the momentum going. I want to fight. Everyone’s always talking about these other hungry fighters. I’m one of the hungriest fighters in the UFC. I’ve never turned a fight down, I want to fight as consistent as possible. But nobody pushes me. They push and build all these other guys up.
“I can beat anyone in the world, so I hope tonight I can start to get some push. I hope the UFC can push me, build me up, do something for me, instead of just trying to keep me as a gatekeeper and just fight all these veterans and tough prospects and up-and-comers. It’s just so frustrating to me.”
