Kevin Vallejos faces the toughest test of his young UFC career when he meets veteran knockout artist Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday night.
Vallejos (17-1) said the matchup immediately brought to mind one of Emmett’s most memorable recent performances. Rather than intimidate him, however, the moment only heightened his enthusiasm for the opportunity.
“When they sent me his name I remembered that knockout he got on (Bryce) Mitchell, but to be honest that made me even more excited about the matchup,” Vallejos told reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m a fan of his, I loved his fights, but I’m very happy. It’s an honor to be able to fight him.”
Vallejos also made it clear he isn’t expecting an easy night against the veteran knockout artist. In fact, the rising featherweight believes the matchup has all the ingredients for the kind of brutal, fan-friendly battle fighters dream about.
“This is MMA. He can knock me out, I can knock him out, but to be honest I feel like this is going to be a dream come true. Like many other fighters I want to have that dream of just having a dirty, bloody, war for five rounds,” he said.
“Where we just kill each other. That’s what I’m pretty much expecting in this fight.”
While he didn’t say much about what he wanted next, he did mention a rematch he’d like to get sooner than later. Fellow UFC featherweight Jean Silva was the one who beat Vallejos by decision in his first stint on DWCS.
“I don’t think that it’s going to take very long. I think that I’ve had a faster path than he has up the rankings in the UFC. I feel like it’s coming soon,” said Vallejos.
“Hopefully, if God allows, is for him to keep winning his fights, winning the title, so I could take the title away from him and beat him for the championship.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Kevin Vallejos above. He faces Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday night.
