UFC 269: Josh Emmett’s Emotional 2020 Fuels His Return To The Cage

Las Vegas, NV – For UFC featherweight Josh Emmett it seems as though every time he takes two steps forward he gets injured and then takes a step back. After more than a year out he returns against Dan Ige as the featured prelim at UFC 269.

Emmett (16-2) is riding a 3-fight win streak with wins over Michael Johnson, Mirsad Bektic and Shane Burgos. Emmett suffered a complete ACL tear against Burgos essentially leaving him with one leg for almost their entire fight. 2020 brought plenty of challenges for the UFC featherweight, but the toughest ones were outside of the cage.

“I haven’t talked about this, but 2020 was tough for a lot of people. I lost my older brother, and my grandpa. Just like, the pain and the sorrow, the pain I felt. It was just something different. Even just my mom….it was the pain, it just motivated me. When I didn’t want to get up and I was hurt…and yeah it was tough. I’ve funneled that into somewhat positive energy and it motivated the hell out of me. So this fight means something so big to me,” Emmett said fighting back tears.

“What I was going through with the knee injury it’s nothing that…even my older brother he he went through his whole life a lot of mental illness, addiction. Even my father I lost him ten years ago. I’m going to fight someone in a controlled setting and it’s like I’m not scared of anything. The only thing is the loss. I’m scared to lose. That’s the only thing that scares me. You’ve just got to keep moving forward. You’ve got to realize life is too short. Time goes by too fast. If you’ve been thinking about someone and they’re on your mind just reach out to them. Say hi, say ‘I love you’. Just let them know.”

It’s clear Emmett has suffered a lot in the past couple of years and he brings that with him into the cage.

As for his opponent, Ige, Emmett knows the fans are excited to see their matchup.

“I think fans are excited to see this car wreck coming up on Saturday night. Just because of the similarities. He comes forward and the pressure he puts on. He’s so durable, he’ll take shots and you can’t get him out of there. He just keeps coming, keeps coming and I’m the same way too. I will never give up. You literally have to put me out or catch me in something, but I won’t quit. That’s a promise.”

Josh Emmett takes on Dan Ige in the featured prelim of UFC 269 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday Dec 11th.

Watch the full UFC 269 media day scrum with Josh Emmett above. The event takes place this Saturday, December 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. More coverage can be found below.