The UFC returns to Jacksonville, Florida this week, with a potentially game-changing featherweight fight in the UFC Jacksonville main event.
Airing on broadcast network ABC, Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria presented the opportunity to inject bonafide fresh blood in the 145lb title picture. The undefeated Topuria was fighting not just for another win against a high-profile opponent, but to move into a title picture that would likely favor him should Alexander Volkanovski successfully defend his title just a couple of weeks later against interim champ Yair Rodriguez.
A win by Mexico’s Yair would likely produce an immediate rematch, leaving Topuria to cool his heels a bit. But either way, it was a welcome development in a division that held already seen Volkanovski face Max Holloway three times.
As for Emmett, he would be looking to bounce back from his loss to Rodriguez, and would no doubt welcome either match-up with Yair or Volkanovski.
Full results from Friday’s UFC Jacksonville weigh-ins can be found below.
The UFC Jacksonville weigh-ins started orderly on Friday — the heavyweights even hit the scales early! — then fell apart at the end. Three fighters came in heavy, though given an extra hour, Jamall Emmers did make weight. Loik Radzhabov and Kleydson Rodrigues did not, however.
Radzhabov’s fight will move forward at a catchweight, but Rodrigues’ bout with Tatsuro Taira has now been cancelled.
UFC Jacksonville: Emmett vs. Topuria Weigh-In Results
Main card
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (145.5) vs. Ilia Topuria (146)
Women’s Flyweight: Amanda Ribas (125) vs. Maycee Barber (126)
Middleweight: Cody Brundage (186) vs. Sedriques Dumas (185)
Featherweight: David Onama (146) vs. Gabriel Santos (146)
Middleweight: Brendan Allen (185.5) vs. Bruno Silva (186)
Preliminary card
Welterweight: Neil Magny (171) vs. Philip Rowe (171)
Flyweight: Zhalgas Zhumagulov (125.5) vs. Joshua Van (125.25)
Heavyweight: Austen Lane (245.5) vs. Justin Tafa (266)
Welterweight: Randy Brown (171) vs. Wellington Turman (171)
Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki (155.5) vs. Loik Radzhabov (157.25)*
Women’s Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci (114) vs. Gillian Robertson (116)
Lightweight: Trevor Peek (156) vs. Jose Mariscal (154)
Featherweight: Jamall Emmers (146)*** vs. Jack Jenkins (145.5)
Flyweight: Tatsuro Taira (126) vs. Kleydson Rodrigues (129)**
* Radzhabov weighs in 1.25lbs over the non-title lightweight limit on his first attempt, did not strip down. He will forfeit 20% of his purse to his opponent; fight moves forward at a catchweight.
** Rodrigues weighs in 3lbs over the non-title flyweight limit — his fight with Taira has been cancelled
*** Emmers weighs in 1lb over the non-title featherweight limit, and was given one hour to cut the final pound. He did so successfully, coming in at 146 on his second attempt.
