UFC ON ABC 5: Josh Emmett vs Ilia Topuria 06/24/2023 Predictions, Preview and Fight Odds

UFC ON ABC 5: Emmett vs Topuria 06/24/2023 – Ilia Topuria stakes his unbeaten record against veteran Josh Emmett in a five-round featherweight encounter on Saturday, June 24, at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The fight is the main event of the latest UFC offering, UFC on ABC 5. The match is expected to have a big implication for both fighters as they seek to climb the rankings of the 145-pound division and possibly gain a championship opportunity in the future. Topuria is coming off a two-round submission victory over Bryce Mitchell in his last fight in December 2022 while Emmett seeks to bounce back from his previous loss against Yair Rodriguez in February.

Both fighters seek to pull off an impressive victory to resume their quest for the featherweight championship. Initial UFC match odds give Topuria a slight edge in his match against Emmett due to his amazing run in the octagon.

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Main Card

Josh Emmett

Emmett (18-3, 9-3 UFC) has taken advantage of the big break he had in May 2016 by winning nine of his first 12 matches in the UFC. The victories he had in the octagon against the likes of Calvin Kattar, Dan Ige, Michael Johnson and Ricardo Lamas moved him to fifth in the featherweight rankings and is in line for an opportunity to fight for the title. However, his quest for the title was abruptly halted after he fell to a two-round triangle choke submission defeat to Yair Rodriguez in February.

The 38-year-old MMA fighter has posted eight stoppage wins (six knockouts and two submissions) in his career and has proven to everyone that he can withstand the punishment and find ways to win inside the octagon. 

In terms of statistics, Emmett has landed 4.17 strikes per minute and has absorbed 4.43/minute. His significant strike accuracy is 37% and has fended off 62% of the strikes attempted on him. Grappling wise, Emmett has averaged 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes and his takedown accuracy is 37%. He has stopped 58% of the takedown tries against him.

Ilia Topuria

Currently ranked No9 in the UFC featherweight rankings, Topuria (13-0, 5-0 UFC) has been sensational in his octagon stint, winning all of his assignments since debuting in October 2020. The Spanish-Georgian has stopped four of his last five opponents, with three coming by knockout. In his last fight, the fighter known as “El Matador” dominated Bryce Mitchell and stopped him in the second round with an arm-triangle choke. It was his 13th straight victory and eighth submission win of his career. The 26-year-old has knocked out four of his foes and won once via decision. 

In terms of statistics, Topuria has landed 3.32 significant strikes per minute and has an accuracy rate of 49%. He has been evasive against his opponents as he has only absorbed 2.75 strikes per minute and his defense rate is 62%. Grappling has been the forte of the 26-year-old fighter as he has averaged 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and has an accuracy rate of 46%. His takedown defense is 92% and his submission average is 2.45 per 15 minutes.