Josh Emmett reacts to being the betting underdog at UFC on ESPN 65: 'Bet the house'
LAS VEGAS – Josh Emmett has no issues with being an underdog at UFC on ESPN 65.
Emmett (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns against unbeaten rising featherweight contender Lerone Murphy (15-0-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC) in Saturday’s (ESPN, ESPN+) main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Emmett is as big as a +265 underdog in some sportsbooks, with Murphy as big as -345 as a favorite in others. The former interim title challenger relishes the role to play spoiler.
“Vegas, they like to make money,” Emmett said at Wednesday’s media day. “I love it. It’s like my friends, the people that are betting, they love it when I’m a huge underdog. What, +275? Bet the house.”
Emmett hasn’t competed since his brutal knockout of Bryce Mitchell in December 2023, which snapped a two-fight losing skid. The long layoff was partially intentional, but the Team Alpha Male fighter thinks with the way he fights, he can jump right back into the mix with a win.
“I’ve never been in a boring fight,” Emmett said. “I know what the UFC wants to see. I know what the fans want to see. They’re excited when I’m on a card because every strike I throw, I’m trying to finish the fight. I don’t think I have to go out there and make a statement, but I’m going to. The goal is to be a world champion. That’s always the goal.
“Murphy wasn’t the original opponent that I wanted because he is behind me (in the rankings). It’s a high risk for really no reward. But at the end of the day, I’ve never turned down a fight. I’ve always fought these fights. I’ve fought the best in the world, so I should be able to go out there, handle business and see what’s next.”
With devastating knockouts over the likes of Mitchell, Ricardo Lamas, and Michael Johnson on his resume, Emmett has something special in store for Saturday.
“I feel like I’ve not been at my best in every fight, I was getting worse,” Emmett said. “I’ll tell you now, though: Over the course of the last 14 months, we’ve been working on my power and everything, and I can promise you, I’m so much more powerful than I was. So wait till that right hand connects.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 65.