AUSTIN, Texas – Josh Emmett’s case for a title shot keeps getting stronger.
The UFC featherweight added another win to the streak, defeating Calvin Kattar in an exciting and highly technical five-round contest in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 37.
Emmett (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated Kattar (23-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by split decision. The judges’ scorecards read 48-47 and 48-47 in favor of Emmett and a single 47-48 card for Kattar.
Following the reading of the decision, Emmett took his mic time to let the UFC know he wants next.
“There’s a huge title fight in two weeks. I want to be sitting cageside to see who I’m fighting next,” Emmett said in the cage. “Dana (White), give me my shot.”
The bout against Kattar was a close contest that had many online split on who should’ve been the rightful winner.
In Round 1, both fighters were very hesitant. In the first three minutes, they mainly sized each other up and threw air strikes to test their range. However, nothing significant landed. In the last two minutes, both began to let go a little more. Emmett seemed to have the more impactful shots, although Kattar looked a bit busier.
In the second, Emmett looked to pressure. He was swinging hard and had Kattar backing up. But about halfway through, Kattar’s jab kicked in and was landing stiff on Emmett’s face. A cut was opened over Emmett’s left eye and was bleeding significantly. Emmett tried to answer back with big looping hooks, but most of them were blocked by Kattar.
The third, fourth and fifth rounds were a constant back-and-forth between their strengths.
Kattar had long periods of time in which he was connecting solid shots with his jab and other rangy attacks. But Emmett would also go in stints where he would force Kattar back by pressing him and throwing big looping hooks. Both fighters were battered and bloodied by the final bell.
Emmett now finds himself on a five-fight unbeaten run. Emmett entered UFC on ESPN 37 with consecutive wins over Michael Johnson, Mirsad Bektic, Shane Burgos and Dan Ige. The 37-year-old hasn’t lost since getting stopped by Jeremy Stephens in 2018.
Kattar is 1-2 in his past three bouts. He was badly beaten by Max Holloway in early 2021 in Abu Dhabi and bounced back with a dominant win over Giga Chikadze. This was the third consecutive event the Boston native headlined in the UFC.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 37 results include:
Josh Emmett def. Calvin Kattar via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Kevin Holland def. Tim Means via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 1:28
Joaquin Buckley def. Albert Duraev via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 0:10
Damir Ismagulov def. Guram Kutateladze via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Gregory Rodrigues def. Julian Marquez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
Adrian Yanez def. Tony Kelley via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:49
Natalia Silva def. Jasmine Jasudavicius via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Jeremiah Wells def. Court McGee via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:34
Ricardo Ramos def. Danny Chavez via knockout (spinning back elbow) – Round 1, 1:12
Maria Oliveira def. Gloria de Paula via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Cody Stamann def. Eddie Wineland via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:59
Phil Hawes def. Deron Winn via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:25
Roman Dolidze def. Kyle Daukaus via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:13