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Emmers was looking to bounce back from a loss against Nate Landwehr; Miranda was looking to do the same following his last encounter, with Morgan Charriere.

Miranda opened the fight hot, feigning a striking exchange then changing levels for a takedown. He landed it, and soon had the back, but wound up more in a three-quarter position. He did have a bodylock on but was well out of position for the rear-naked choke he was attempting.

When Emmers finally pulled free, he wound up in top position, moving back to his feet while wary of a Miranda upkick. Back on the feet, Miranda looked to mix in knees; Emmers fired front kicks, with Miranda answering with one. With just over two minutes to go, Emmers landed a nasty right hand that sent Miranda sailing! He recovered, but Emmers wisely let him back up, keeping things standing. An Emmers elbow, then right hand, did further damage. One brief clinch, then after the break, another right hand dropped Miranda! A hammer fist or two later, and Jamall Emmers had silenced the Mexican crowd!

The fight saw Emmers return from a year layoff, and couldn’t have gone better for the American.

Official Result: Jamall Emmers def. Gabriel Miranda by TKO, Round 1, 4:06

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Nate ‘The Train’ lost his first shot at the rankings to Dan Ige recently, while Emmers had the best performance of his career when he stopped Dennis Buzukja in twenty-nine seconds. With Nate 4-3 in the UFC and Emmers 3-3, these two burgeoning featherweight contenders looked to improve and strive for a higher ranked opportunity next.

Emmers came out swinging big and knocked down Nate momentarily, but fans of Landwehr know he often takes several big shots before he gets going. Jamall’s speed, combination punching, and mixing of his targets worked for him well, but he needed to be careful of being too wild. Nate stayed in the fight and the aggression of Emmers slowed down, though Landwehr bled from multiple cuts. However, Jamall then got rocked twice by ‘The Train’ who just matched forward to land whatever he could, with the dirty boxing in the clinch being particularly effective for the brawler in Landwehr. Emmers kept being effective as well, though, with his left hook and body punching doing work for him. But the tables turned for good when Nate caught Jamal with a picture perfect uppercut, dropping Emmers to his back. A few hammerfists finished the job.

With a monster knockout, Nate the Train would almost assuredly get a $50k bonus for the fourth time in a row. Fans listened closely as he went on the mic for his post-fight interview, and they were not disappointing as his brash, bold personality and southern drawl entertained as usual. “Whoop my ass and see what happens,” he yelled at one point, drawing cheers from the crowd as always.

Official Result: Nate Landwehr def. Jamall Emmers by Knockout (uppercut to hammerfists), Round 1, 4:43

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For Emmers, the match-up is exactly the sort of pairing he sees as necessary to push onward in the UFC‘s 145lb division. He enters the bout with Landwehr off a win over Dennis Buzukja. Both men are action fighters willing to leave it all in the cage.

“This is a guy that I need on my record. I need to get this W to further my career,” Emmers (20-7) told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC Atlantic City media day. “Tough, exciting fighter. Fan favorite. I need one of these guys to push myself forward.”

Landwehr was not the only option for “Pretty Boy” Emmers, whose desire is to put on entertaining fights inside the octagon. He was the one who fit Emmers’ long-term goals best, however.

“I had two choices, I could have fought last week,” revealed Emmers. After coming together with his coaches and weighing the options, “we figured this was the best fight for what I want to do with my career. So we picked Nate Landwehr.”

As for whether he gets excited at the bout’s Fight of the Night prospects, “most definitely,” said Emmers. “This is what I’m here for, to entertain, put on exciting fights. He’s going to be a great dance partner  for me to put on an exciting fight. So I’m excited about the fight just like the fans are.”

Later, he would size up Landwehr’s oversized personality, telling Cageside Press that “he’s like the opposite of me. He’s a wild guy, very animated. I think that’s just going to make a good fight, two opposites going at it.”

Watch the full UFC Atlantic City media day appearance by Jamall Emmers above.

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“I feel amazing,” Emmers told reporters including Cageside Press as he took a pause to think about his emotions.

“Took a long time to get here. Very long time. Had to sacrifice a decade away from my family. Get to fight in Madison Square Garden. Feel like I’m living a dream, you know?”

The dream to fight at MSG, to fight in the UFC, and to get his first UFC finish was great for Emmers. It did seem however that he was talking about something much deeper than UFC 295.

“Lucky to do it with people I respect and I love,” Emmers said pointing to his coaching staff. “I got love for so. That’s amazing too. I’m on cloud 9. I’m on cloud 9.”

The reality of what he pulled off at UFC 295, fighting at the mecca of sports, and doing it the way he did dawned on him.

“I’m a part of history. Like I’m making history. My name going to be in the record books. Wow,” he said.

“I remember telling people my dream and they laughed in my face. Got ridiculed because I wanted to do something different from what everybody else was doing. Growing up in Miami nobody did martial arts.”

The fight with Dennis Buzukja turned out to be a 49 second highlight reel knockout for Emmers which he credited to camp feeling ‘right’.

“When I started camp it just felt right. Everything was clicking early. I’m picking up on things a lot faster. Stuff’s just starting to connect a lot quicker,” Emmers said.

“All I had to do was press play when I got into the cage.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Jamall Emmers above.

The post Jamall Emmers Reflects On Journey To UFC, Buzukja Finish appeared first on Cageside Press.

Buzukja entered the UFC on short notice earlier in 2023 and was entering this fight still in search of his first UFC win. The inexperience and lack of a UFC win did not bother the New York crowd, who got behind their guy in a raucous Madison Square Garden. However the support of a home crowd was not enough to buoy him over Jamall Emmers, who earned his third UFC win.

Emmers started the fight well, coming forward with combinations which landed and pushed Buzukja back to the fence. Jamall’s pressure held Dennis there until he landed a straight right hand which dropped the New Yorker like a sack of potatoes. Follow up strikes forced Keith Peterson step in for a TKO in under a minute.

Emmers had an emotional response post-fight, understandably, and shouted, ‘Fifty G’s!” but unfortunately was ineligible for a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus due to missing weight by one pound at Friday’s official weigh-in. The miss was the first for Emmers in the UFC; he moves to 3-3 in the promotion and returns to the win column following a loss to Jack Jenkins.

Official Result: Jamall Emmers def. Dennis Buzukja by TKO (right hand and ground strikes), Round 1, 0:49

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Emmers had ended an 18-month hiatus in February when he served up the first defeat of Khusein Askhabov’s career.

A bit of a feeling out process played out to start off Emmers vs. Jenkins. Jenkins spent a good part of the round walking Emmers down, and found success with his kicks both low and high. Emmers, with the height and reach advantage, was explosive at times, and employed some stance switches while using long punches and shots to the body to keep Jenkins outside. Another body kick landed for Jenkins, which in turn led to a calf kick, later in the frame, a sequence that repeated itself.

Just prior to the end of the round, however, a low blow doubled Jenkins over, leading to a break in the action.

Jenkins came out and went back to the low kick in round two, then trailed it with a hook up top. Next up was a high kick form Jenkins that sailed wide. A back-and-forth round would play out in the second, with Jenkins continuing to find success with his kicks. Jenkins had the edge in output, though he slowed somewhat on the volume front as the round progressed. Emmers continued to do his best work at distance, and landed a solid right hand at the end of the round — but three unanswered kicks by Jenkins underscored the advantage he had.

Jenkins landed a takedown late in the frame, only for Emmers to reverse.

Emmers changed things up in the third, landing an early takedown. He would spent twenty of time on top, with Jenkins closing his guard for a bit. The ref would issue a warning to stay busy; Emmers ultimately couldn’t make too much happen, and they’d end up back on the feet. Not for long, with Jenkins getting the fight back down. He didn’t stay in control for long, with Emmers getting on top. The more time Emmers spent in control on the ground, the more puzzling his choice not to wrestle in the opening two rounds became. Emmers clearly had the third round, but would lose the fight on the scorecards thanks to Jenkins winning rounds one and two on the feet.

Official Result: Jack Jenkins def. Jamall Emmers by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

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Askhabov, making his UFC debut off his own extended layoff, had started the night 23-0. That’s now 23-1. As daunting as that record might seem, Emmers said the fight essentially played out as planned.

“He fought a little harder than we expected, but I knew we’d have him, towards the second and third round, it would be my fight,” Emmers (19-6) told media outlets including Cageside Press. “He started to break, and I felt him. I felt like I could fight five rounds, I feel great. I’m glad the fight went the way it went.”

Emmers had an emotional post-fight interview in the cage, which saw him honor his coaches for standing by him. “Just so many emotions went through my head and my body at that moment,” Emmers said afterwards. “Had a lot of things happen through this last year, from the layoff. And then just life, back-to-back, things just happened. Just a relief, I came out on the other side. I’m a different person. I’ve grown a lot, I’ve matured a lot, I just see the world a lot different from a year ago.”

Despite those personal trials, Emmers said there was no fear of not making it back into the cage. “I was willing to go through whatever I had to go through to get back here. If I would of had to wait six more months, I would have waited six more months. It was all in the plan, it happened the way it was supposed to happen. I had to just embrace it, I had to ride the wave, and I rode the wave, and I came out on top.”

Jamall Emmers (@prettyboyemmers) wants on #UFC287 so he can fight in his hometown of Miami, talks his name of pro athletes from the Magic City. #UFCVegas69

🎥: @ELaw32

🔽🔽🔽
WATCH: https://t.co/sqntmXeD1f pic.twitter.com/yth7EoDzN3

— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) February 19, 2023

A Miami native, Emmers is hoping to take part in the promotion’s return to the city this April. That would be UFC 287.

“Being able to fight back home, it’s been a while since I’ve been there,” he told Cageside Press. “I’ve been on this journey trying to be a better martial artist, and I had to take a lot of time away just to do that. So even if somebody falls out, I’m willing to pick up that spot. I’m going to take maybe a week break, and get back to it, get back to sharpening my skills. So I’ll be ready to fight whenever.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 69 post-fight media appearance by Jamall Emmers above.

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Askhabov, a perfect 23-0 to start the night, had an eye-popping record, but had not competed for the better part of three years prior to the fight, with his debut delayed on multiple occasions.

Emmers himself was returning from an extended layoff as well. His last fight had been a 2021 loss to Pat Sabatini.

Jamall Emmers started off the fight with a couple of right hands and leg kicks. Askhabov changed it up by going for a takedown. He pressed Emmers against the cage but kneed Emmers in the groin causing the separation. After a brief pause and warning by the ref, they both traded a series of leg kicks. Askhabov was landing with a lot of impact and Emmers was throwing a lot of different kicks. A few times Askhabov was kicking the lead leg of Emmers buckling him. Askhabov threw a lot of kicks but did whiff on a big wheel kick. The round ended following a competitive five minutes.

Askhabov started round two with a takedown but Emmers easily stuffed it. Like in round one both guys kept clashing in the pocket but neither were landing anything significant.  When one landed clean the other was getting it right back. Emmers was doing a better job mixing in some strikes strikes to the body. Askhabov attempted another failed spinning attack and Emmers dropped him with a right. Emmers let Askhabov off the hook never jumping on top. Instead, he chopped at the legs of Askhabov. In the final thirty seconds of the round Askhabov was visibly tired. Emmers ended round two with a body kick.

In the final frame, it was another stuffed takedown from Emmers. Askhabov was tired and off another takedown Emmers just threw him to his back. Emmers got on top; he quickly moved to mount. He was too high and Askhabov shook him off but Emmers did regain the top position. Askhabov was scrambling but Emmers was a step ahead and would move to the mount. Emmers switched to the back and mount but let Askhabov scramble again back to his feet. Askhabov shot in for a lazy takedown and Emmers easily threw him off and got on top. Emmers ended the fight in the mount by going for the armbar at the bell.

No surprises on the scorecards, with Jamall Emmers serving up the first loss of Khusein Askhabov’s career.

Official Result: Jamall Emmers def. Khusein Askhabov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Khusein “Nohcho” Askhabov
Standing at five-foot-eight
Fighting at 135 lbs (bantamweight)
28-years-old
Fighting out of Grozny, Russia
Training out of Tiger Muay Thai
A pro record of 23-0
6 KO/TKOs, 10 Submissions

How will Askhabov fare in the UFC:

It’s nice to see Askhabov finally making his UFC debut. He was signed to the UFC in late 2021 and had two cancelled fights that never got him in the cage.

There are some questions about the legitimacy of his record. However, it’s not as bad as people think. When he was 13-0 he lacked quality wins. In his last ten fights, he didn’t fight a single opponent with a losing record. No matter what anyone says, 23-0 is an impressive record.

Starting off, Askhabov is comfortable everywhere. There isn’t one area in the fight where he is completely a fish out of water. On the feet Askhabov is volume-based and very explosive. He could be much cleaner in his technique but you will see why he’s capable of some highlight-reel knockouts. Askhabov will throw a leg kick to a three-punch combination with his hands. He does a great job at mixing in his kicks and punches. I will highlight the way he throws his flying knee. He’ll come forward flash the knee and then come up with the other knee. It’s very well done.

Askhabov is an even better wrestler. He has a good whizzer, strong hips, can chain-wrestle, and has strong fundamental wrestling skills. Askhabov has good timing in his takedown entries and can make quick adjustments to get the fight down. I don’t have a problem at all with his wrestling. His grappling has looked good as well. Askhabov does have ten wins by submission which shows his grappling is credible. I will say he can be submission over position a lot but he is comfortable no matter where he’s at on the mat. He’s got a diverse submission attack being able to attack all limbs and the neck. I don’t like how often he goes to the heel hook because that’s a 40/60 position. On the mat overall I like what he does but there will be times he is over-aggressive and lets guys take his back.

I don’t think Askhabov is a fraud as some have suggested, but I do think his record may look better than it is. I don’t think anyone knows for sure how good Askhabov is. Once he has to dig deep and has to be more defensive than usual he’s going to prove where his level is. As of now, I don’t see him as a ranked fighter. Bantamweight is stacked so even at the bottom of the division he’s going to be tested.

How Askhabov and Emmers match up:

Jamall Emmers hasn’t had a good UFC run thus far. He’s 1-2 and has only fought three times in three years. His two losses are to Pat Sabatini and Giga Chikadze so no shame there. Emmers is a very technical striker that always throws one-two’s as the power isn’t there but the combinations and aggressiveness shine. Emmers’ wrestling is solid, his shots are perfectly-timed and solid execution is done very well.

Emmers is a tough fight for anyone debuting. People may forget that Emmers arguably beat Chikadze and dropped Sabatini leading up to him getting caught in a sub. If Askhabov is legit he wins this fight. I think Emmers is underrated and is more proven compared to Askhabov. Askhabov also hasn’t fought in three years so the pick in Emmers.

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