Scouting Report: Josh Emmett

Josh Emmett

Born: March 4, 1985 (Age: 38) in Phoenix
Division: Featherweight
Height: 5’6”
Reach: 70”
Record: 18-3 (9-3 UFC)
Association: Team Alpha Male
Stage of Career: Post-Prime

Summary: Emmett is an inspiring fighter. After many feared his career might be over after a knockout loss to Jeremy Stephens resulted in significant facial fractures, he responded with a five-fight winning streak and his best form to date, showcasing tremendous toughness and resourcefulness. However, he turned 38 in March and is no longer at his peak. His standup features a lot of movement and excellent defense, all predicated on his landing a big right hand. The cross and overhand variants are tremendously powerful and plenty accurate, with the latter having produced one-punch knockouts. While both punches are undeniably dangerous, they are somewhat telegraphed and can become predictable. As Emmett has aged, he has increasingly looked to land one punch at a time rather than throwing them in bunches. In terms of grappling, he has solid takedowns from the clinch and absolutely brutal ground-and-pound thanks to his ability to snake through multiple hard right hands; it was the means with which he finished Mirsad Bektic. However, limited top control allows many fighters to get back to their feet with ease against Emmett. He can be taken down himself and even kept there at times, absorbing unhealthy amounts of ground-and-pound. Nevertheless, Emmett is constantly dangerous, with stellar cardio that has him moving energetically and throwing big shots for three to five rounds. He also possesses a high level of focus and always looks ready to seize his opportunity, as Michael Johnson discovered.

STRIKING

• Stance: Orthodox, though he occasionally switches to southpaw.
• Hand Speed: Average.
• Jab: While decent, it is often telegraphed and can be avoided. However, when it lands it does so with authority and even resulted in a knockdown against Bektic.
• Cross: A powerful and fairly accurate shot, but Emmett struggles to land it at times due to its telegraphed tendencies.
• Left Hook: Almost never throws it.
• Overhand Right: His primary weapon, and it is excellent. Though slightly telegraphed and somewhat predictable, it is a wonderfully technical shot, with a tight arc, outstanding accuracy and devastating power. It resulted in his memorable knockout of Johnson.
• Uppercuts: Rarely uses them.
• Solitary Striker or Volume Puncher: He used to throw in bunches, but he has become more of a one-shot sniper as he has grown older.
• Favorite Combination(s): The one-two, though the jab is less impactful than when he throws it by itself.
• Leg Kicks: Mediocre and fairly light. He does not sit down on many of them, so they lack power.
• Body Kicks: Seldom utilizes them, even when he faces a southpaw.
• Head Kicks: He can be off-balance at times when he throws them. They are also somewhat telegraphed, and he rarely sets them up. The result? Opponents consistently block them.
• Chains Kicks to Punches: No.

Emmett bases his striking around connecting with a big right hand, whether it be the cross or the overhand variant. He darts around the cage energetically, circles well and utilizes in and out movements, then fires the right hand. While the punches can become predictable, they both carry fight-finishing power. Furthermore, the shots are accurate, with the overhand being particularly technical. His jab can land heavy, but the fact that he telegraphs it makes it possible to avoid. Emmett does not even throw the left hook, which would serve as a major addition to his repertoire. His kicks are surprisingly ineffective. One of Emmett’s best attributes can be found in his striking defense. Aside from the weaknesses Yair Rodriguez’s explosive kicking game exposed, Emmett has been difficult to hit, not only because of his movement but because of his ability to block.

CLINCH

• Physical Strength: Excellent.
• Technique: He can complete takedowns at close range but often does not pay enough attention to his own stance or stability, resulting in his being taken down himself.
• Knees: Decent, but they are not a main focus, and they are difficult to land due to his stature.
• Elbows: Does not use them.
• Defense Against Knees/Elbows: Enhanced by the fact that his opponent is often worried about being taken down.

Emmett executes a majority of his takedowns in the clinch, and he can complete them in several different ways. On the flipside, he has also been taken down multiple times himself in close quarters, so this arena of battle is something of a double-edged sword.

GRAPPLING

• Wrestling from a Shot: Satisfactory. He tries to time it to the opponent’s strikes, but his efforts can be a little slow and do not trouble accomplished grapplers at all. Emmett has definitely weakened here as he has aged.
• Wrestling in the Clinch: One of his strong suits. He has executed double-leg pick-ups and slams, as well as a number of single-legs from the position.
• Takedown Defense: Fair. It has been a long time since he faced a grappler who tried to wrestle him, but even Scott Holtzman managed to take him down multiple times, once with a basic inside trip.
• Ability to Return to Feet: He can take advantage of space afforded by opponents, but he can also be held down and has shown vulnerability to ground-and-pound.
• Submissions: He has never submitted anyone in the UFC and rarely makes an attempt to do so.
• Defense/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Bottom: Avoids being passed or submitted, but he does not move well to dodge ground-and-pound.
• Top Control: Almost non-existent. Many opponents get up instantly after being taken down. A definite area of concern.
• Ground-and-Pound: Absolutely brutal when he is given an opening. He snaked a bunch of accurate right hands through to finish Bektic.

Emmett’s grappling is less of a weapon than one might imagine. His shot can be slow and easily thwarted by sound grapplers, but he can secure plenty of takedowns when he finds himself in the clinch against the cage. His ground-and-pound remains deadly thanks to his heavy right hands. However, his lack of top control often allows opponent to escape danger after being taken down. Emmett can be taken down himself and controlled, and he has shown alarming vulnerabilities to ground-and-pound. This phase looks like a potential liability.

INTANGIBLES

• Athleticism/General Physical Strength: Powerful for a featherweight and moves lithely.
• Cardio: Does not throw many shots, but he can move well and fire off damaging punches for three to five rounds.
• Chin: He avoids getting hit much, but he can weather some hard shots. The knockout loss to Stephens remains the only time he has been finished with strikes.
• Recuperative Powers: Emmett managed to recover quickly from some big shots against Rodriguez and Calvin Kattar.
• Intelligence: His game revolves around seizing opportunities and staying focused for the duration. Emmett excels in those areas. He did so against Johnson in the final minute of a fight he might have otherwise lost.