Joshua James Emmett (born March 4, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2011, Emmett has also competed for King of the Cage.
Background
Emmett was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 4, 1985. He grew up in a dysfunctional family with a single mom and late brother, Nick.
He studied
psychology in college with the intention of going into law enforcement and earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree at
Menlo College.
He wrestled for 14 years; beginning at El Camino Fundamental High School and continuing through his college years.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
2011
After compiling an amateur record of 2–0, Emmett started his professional MMA career on October 8, 2011, and made his debut in Capitol Fighting Championship as a Featherweight. He broke his hand in the first round and continued with the fight and managed to earn his first win by unanimous decision.
Emmett had surgery on his broken hand and had a 10 month lay off from competing. He returned to training to prepare for his next fight and broke the same hand on his last sparring session prior to the fight event which forced him to take another long break before returning to the cage.
2013
After his first professional win, he made a move to compete in West Coast Fighting Championship (WFC) and made his debut on August 3, 2013, against Mike Ryan, winning via guillotine choke in the first round.
On November 16, 2013, Emmett faced Noah Schnable and defeated him in 45 seconds in round one with TKO (punches).
2014
Emmett's third opponent with West Coast Fighting Championship was Adin Duenas on February 15, 2014. He managed to secure a win via unanimous decision.
Two months after the fight with Duenas, Emmett faced Tramain Smith at West Coast Fighting Championship 9. He won the fight via TKO (punches) in round one.
On September 13, 2014, Emmett was up against Tony Rios and judges awarded a win with a unanimous decision in favor of Emmett.
Emmett faced Brandon Ricetti on November 15, 2014, at West Coast Fighting Championship 12 in a five-round fight for the lightweight title belt. In the fifth round, Emmett loaded with punches, pressing Recetti to fall forward when Emmett hit Ricetti with a knee and Ricetti was KO. The fight was ruled a No Decision at first as Ricetti was grounded when he got kneed. However, the decision was overturned after a review of the incident and a win was awarded to Emmett via unanimous technical decision. Emmett was crowned WFC Lightweight Champion.
2015
After he secured the championship belt, Emmett didn't return to compete until almost one year later on October 3, 2015, at KOTC promotion, facing Rocky Johnson. Emmett showed off his submission skills and won the fight via arm-triangle choke.
2016
Emmett returned to fight in West Coast Fighting Championship promotion in Sacramento, California, US, on January 23, 2016, against
Christos Giagos, a former UFC fighter. Emmett secured a win via TKO at 2:21 of round 3 and also won the ISCF - International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) Pro California Lightweight Title.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
After garnering a 9–0 record as a professional, Emmett signed with the UFC.
2016
Emmett made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement on May 8, 2016, against
Jon Tuck at UFC Fight Night 87, where he replaced an injured
Nick Hein.
Emmett suffered a compound fracture on his left right finger from catching Tuck's spinning back kick
and the referee halted the fight briefly prior to restarting. Emmett secured a win with split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Emmett was expected to face Jeremy Kennedy on August 27, 2016, at UFC on Fox 21.
On December 17, 2016, Emmett faced Scott Holtzman at UFC on Fox 22.
2017
Emmett faced promotional newcomer
Desmond Green on April 8, 2017, at UFC 210.
Emmett was outpointed by Green's striking and lost the fight via split decision of 29-28, 28-29, and 30-27.
Emmett faced Felipe Arantes in a featherweight bout on October 21, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 118.
Emmett faced Ricardo Lamas on December 16, 2017, at .
2018
Emmett faced
Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fox 28, which took place on February 24, 2018, in Orlando, Florida.
Despite hurting Stephens in the first round, Emmett lost the fight by knockout in the second round, after being hurt with a knee and elbows to the head.
As a result, Emmett was sidelined for the remainder of 2018, after undergoing successful surgery to correct facial injuries sustained during the Stephens fight.
2019
Emmett faced Michael Johnson on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2.
He won the fight via knockout in the third round.
Emmett faced Mirsad Bektić on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 155.
2020
Emmett was expected to face Arnold Allen on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166.
However, Emmett pulled out the fight, citing an undisclosed injury,
and he was replaced by
Nik Lentz.
Emmett was expected to face Edson Barboza on May 2, 2020, at .
With one fight left on his contract, Emmett signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC.[ ] He won the bout via unanimous decision.
2021
Emmett faced
Dan Ige on December 11, 2021, at UFC 269.
He won the fight by unanimous decision.
2022
Emmett faced
Calvin Kattar on June 18, 2022, in the main event at UFC on ESPN 37.
He won the close bout via split decision.
14 of the 19 media members scored the fight in favor of Kattar.
The bout earned Emmett the Fight of the Night award.
2023
Emmett faced Yair Rodríguez for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship on February 12, 2023, at UFC 284.
Emmett lost the bout via triangle choke submission in the second round.
Emmett was initially scheduled to face Ilia Topuria on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47.
Emmett was scheduled to face Giga Chikadze on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.
2025
Emmett faced
Lerone Murphy on April 5, 2025 in the main event at UFC on ESPN 65.
He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Emmett faced Youssef Zalal on October 4, 2025 at UFC 320.
2026
Emmett is scheduled to face Kevin Vallejos in the main event on March 14, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 269.
Championships and accomplishments
-
Ultimate Fighting Championship
-
Performance of the Night (Two times)
-
Fight of the Night (Three times)
-
Most knockdowns in UFC Featherweight division history (12)
-
UFC Honors Awards
-
2020: President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee
-
UFC.com Awards
-
2016: Ranked #8 Newcomer of the Year
-
2017: Ranked #2 Upset of the Year
-
2019: Ranked #10 Knockout of the Year
-
2020: Ranked #4 Fight of the Year
-
2023: Knockout of the Year vs. Bryce Mitchell
-
West Coast Fighting Championship
-
WCFC Lightweight Champion (One time)
-
ISCF Pro California Lightweight Champion (One time)
-
Sportsnaut
-
2023 UFC Knockout of the Year
Personal life
Emmett is married to his wife Vanessa.
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Loss
|align=center|19–6
|
Youssef Zalal
|Submission (armbar)
|UFC 320
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:38
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|19–5
|
Lerone Murphy
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|19–4
|
Bryce Mitchell
|KO (punch)
|UFC 296
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:57
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|18–4
|
Ilia Topuria
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Jacksonville, Florida, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|18–3
|Yair Rodríguez
|Submission (triangle choke)
|UFC 284
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:19
|
Perth, Australia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–2
|
Calvin Kattar
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Austin, Texas, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–2
|
Dan Ige
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 269
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–2
|
Shane Burgos
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|15–2
|Mirsad Bektić
|TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:25
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–2
|Michael Johnson
|KO (punch)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|4:14
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|13–2
|
Jeremy Stephens
|KO (elbows)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:35
|Orlando, Florida, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–1
|
Ricardo Lamas
|KO (punch)
|
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:33
|Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–1
|
Felipe Arantes
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Gdańsk, Poland
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|11–1
|
Desmond Green
|Decision (split)
|UFC 210
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Buffalo, New York, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–0
|
Scott Holtzman
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10–0
|
Jon Tuck
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|
Rotterdam, Netherlands
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–0
|
Christos Giagos
|TKO (punches)
|West Coast FC 16
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|2:21
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–0
|Rocky Johnson
|Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|KOTC: Total Elimination
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:45
|Oroville, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–0
|Brandon Ricetti
|Technical Decision (unanimous)
|West Coast FC 12
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|0:24
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–0
|Tony Rios
|Decision (unanimous)
|West Coast FC 11
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–0
|Tramain Smith
|TKO (punches)
|West Coast FC 9
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:28
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–0
|Adin Duenas
|Decision (unanimous)
|West Coast FC 8
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–0
|Noah Schnable
|TKO (punches)
|West Coast FC 7
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:45
|Jackson, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–0
|Mike Ryan
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|West Coast FC 6
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:52
|Placerville, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–0
|Emilio Gonzales
|Decision (unanimous)
|Capitol FC: Fall Classic
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sacramento, California, United States
|
See also
-
List of current UFC fighters
-
List of male mixed martial artists
External links
