Josh Emmett: “I believed I was going to be screwed” by the split decision. “I thought that I had won four rounds.”

Josh Emmett had no doubt in his mind that he should leave UFC Austin as the winner in his main event fight against Calvin Kattar but he got a little nervous when the judges’ scorecards were read in the octagon.

One judge gave Kattar the fight with a 48-47 score but the other two judges felt Emmett did enough to earn the split decision victory with a pair of 48-47 cards in his favor. Emmett later admitted that he wasn’t expecting the score to be that low, considering the way he actually felt about the fight.

” I thought that I would get screwed,” Emmett stated about his decision to withdraw from the UFC Austin press conference after the fight. “I thought I won four [rounds] to one. It was four to one. At least three to two and when they went split [decision], I was like come on! But it worked out in my favor.

“Calvin Kattar can be described as a dog. Like I told you guys, I was ready for a 25 minute war. He is tough as nails. He was able to get in front of me with his elbows and knees when I hit them with big hits to their heads or bodies. He has a slick jab. It was amazing how well I prepared. My coaches, everybody, this is our time.”

Although Emmett has not had the chance to watch the fight, he felt that he won the fight by winning the first, third and fourth rounds against Kattar.

Judge Chris Lee fought Emmett in rounds three, four, and five, while Sal D’Amato fought the Team Alpha Male fighter in rounds one to three. Only Doug Crosby scored the fight for Kattar after giving him rounds two, four and five.

” The second [round] was very close,” Emmett stated. He said, “But, he gave it to me but I believed I had won three, four, and five.” “He was only landing the jab, and I was landing power shots supporting him.” Nothing but respect to him, his coaches and his teammates.”

Although the fight was close all the way, Emmett won with a split decision win.

He wasn’t just happy about the win, but Emmett also felt proud to have proven a few doubters wrong before he entered his first UFC main-event on Saturday.

“I told you guys I’ll talk to you on Saturday night, a lot of you guys counting me out saying he was a slick boxer, all this type of stuff,” Emmett said. Emmett said, “I also can box.” I wanted to kind of prove it but I was landing power shots. It’s not boxing; it’s MMA.

” I can do anything. Although I wasn’t able to show you half my game, I am happy with this win. I am happy to be .”

The win moves Emmett one step closer to title contention with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his belt against Max Holloway at UFC 276 on July 2.

Emmett believes he should be the next person in line to challenge for the belt and he’s hoping the UFC will put him cageside in Las Vegas to watch Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3 unfold.

” I want that shot,” Emmett stated. “I said the No. 2 and 3 guys [Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez], they’re phenomenal fighters, they’ve fought the top guys Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. The division needs new blood.

“I know I can compete with them. I’m the best featherweight on this planet. I’m ready. To see my next opponent, I would like to be sitting in cageside [at UFC 276]. These guys are tough. These guys .”

I am confident I can defeat them.