UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to defend the belt at UFC 290 against interim champion Yair Rodriguez. Following that fight, the winner requires a new challenger. Ilia Topuria is looking to be a new star for the UFC, while Josh Emmett wants a shot at gold.
Something has got to give when the two face off on June 24.
The UFC returns to Jacksonville, with the event on ABC emanating from inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, where the promotion held events during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emmett turned pro in 2011. Competing for West Coast FC, Emmett joined the UFC in 2016. He is 9-3 with the promotion, beating the likes of Shane Burgos, Dan Age, and Calvin Katter. "The Fighting Falmer's" last bout was a submission loss against Rodriguez at UFC 284 in February for the interim belt.
MORE: Sign up to watch UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria on ESPN+
Born in Germany, Topuria turned pro in 2015. He beat Brian Bouland in 2018 in a fight for the Cage Warriors bantamweight title, but couldn't win the belt after he missed weight. Topuria joined the UFC in 2020 and is 5-0 for the promotion. In his last bout in December, "El Matador" submitted the red-hot Bryce Mitchell in the second round.
Emmett, ranked fifth in the UFC’s featherweight rankings, is looking to take the streaking Topuria (ranked ninth) down to remain relevant within the UFC's rankings.
"The UFC is looking to build him (Topuria) up, but I’ve fought a lot of guys that are similar to him, his style," Emmett told the UFC. "He’s really good. He’s a really good fighter — young, confident — but he’s never fought anyone close to me. There is nobody that is even close to my abilities."
Here is all you need to know about UFC Jacksonville, from start time, channel, odds, fight card, and more.
When is UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria?
- Date: Saturday, June 24 | Sunday, June 25
- Prelims: 11:30 a.m. ET | 8:30 a.m. PT | 4:30 p.m. BST | 1:30 a.m. AEST
- Main card: 3 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. PT | 8 p.m. BST | 5 a.m. AEST
- Main event: 7 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. BST | 9 a.m. AEST (approx.)
UFC Jacksonville takes place on June 24. The prelims start at 1:30 a.m. ET | 8:30 a.m. PT | 4:30 p.m. BST | 1:30 a.m. AEST, followed by the main card at 3 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. PT | 8 p.m. BST | 5 a.m. AEST. Emmett and Topuria should enter the octagon around 7 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. BST | 9 a.m. AEST, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
MORE: PFL 2023 regular-season standings
How to watch UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | ABC | ESPN+ |
| UK and Ireland | BT Sport 2 | BT Sport app/website |
| Australia | — | Kayo |
The prelims and main card for UFC Jacksonville will be available on the ESPN+ streaming service in the U.S.. The main card is also on ABC.
Emmett vs. Topuria price: How much does UFC Jacksonville cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
MORE: Sign up to watch UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria on ESPN+
Where is UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria?
UFC Jacksonville is in the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Florida. The arena can hold up to 15,000 people.
Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria odds for UFC Jacksonville
Per Caesars, Topuria is the -330 favorite, while Emmett is the +260 underdog.
In Canada, per Sports Interaction, Topuria is the -395 favorite, while Emmett is the +270 underdog.
In the UK, Sky Bet are offering odds of Topuria to win at 2/7, while the Emmett upset is priced at 11/4.
Josh Emmett record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: March 4, 1985
- Height: 5-6
- Reach: 70 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 18-3 with 6 wins via knockout
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Ilia Topuria record and bio
- Nationality: Georgian and Spanish
- Born: January 21, 1997
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 69 inches
- Total fights: 13
- Record: 13-0 with four wins via knockout
UFC Jacksonville: Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria fight card
Main card
- Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria; Featherweights
- Amanda Ribas vs. Maycee Barber; Flyweights
- Cody Brundage vs. Sedriques Dumas; Middleweights
- David Onama vs. Gabriel Santos; Featherweights
- Brendan Allen vs. Bruno Silva; Middleweights
Prelims
- Neil Magny vs. Philip Rowe; Welterweights
- Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Joshua Van; Flyweights
- Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa; Heavyweights
- Randy Brown vs. Wellington Turman; Welterweights
- Mateusz Rębecki vs. Loik Radzhabov; Lightweights
- Tabatha Ricci vs. Gillian Robertson; Strawweights
- Trevor Peek vs. Jose Mariscal; Lightweights
- Jamall Emmers vs. Jack Jenkins; Featherweights
- Tatsuro Taira vs. Kleydson Rodrigues; Flyweights