Mixed martial arts action heads to Jacksonville, Florida, this weekend, as the UFC on ABC 5 sees 14 bouts scheduled for Saturday night. Headlining the event at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena are featherweights Josh Emmett and Ilia Topuria, who are battling to get a chance at the title in the near future.
This is a classic match up between rising star, and aging veteran. With Josh Emmett knocking on the door of 40 and coming into this clash off the back of a loss, there will be an air of desperation around the American as he takes on his undefeated opponent. Can Emmett keep his career alive, or will Topuria continue to steam roll through the UFC with devastating effect?
We break down all the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill ahead of this fight, and recommend the best bets to make on UFC this weekend.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 23rd, 7:00 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds, bookmaker William Hill doesn’t have this fight as particularly close. Ilia Topuria is paying a low 1.28 to win this bout, while Josh Emmett is sitting up at 3.60. The odds of Topuria knocking out Emmett or winning by submission are the best methods of victory, with both at 2.50. Emmett’s best chance according to the odds is a knockout at 5.50, while a decision is 10.00 either way.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 23rd, 7:00 A.M. (GMT)
There’s a lot to look at here. Emmett is obviously the older fighter by more than a decade, meaning his movement and endurance is likely to be a challenge. However, the combination of his experience against high calibre opponents, plus his power hitting, means that Emmett still has a path to victory. Topuria, on the other hand, has an excellent wrestling base, and isn’t afraid to trade blows to extract a win.
Chances are, this one winds up on the deck after some initial exchanges. We say it will come down to how patient Emmett is, and whether or not he can avoid giving up a good position in the grapple. The conservative bet says Topuria by submission, but those after a higher return may want to consider Emmett’s track record. Prior to his loss in February, Emmet’s last three fights had gone the distance and were absolute wars.
Could the American pull another gargantuan effort out of the bag in Jacksonville, and force this one onto the judges’ cards? At 5.50 for this fight going the distance, we say it isn’t a bad punt to take.
