Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former titlist Max Holloway square off for the third time at UFC 276 in two weeks. No. 4-ranked Calvin Kattar and No. 7-ranked Josh Emmett looked to insert themselves into the conversation at Saturday's UFC Fight Night headliner.
In what was a back and forth affair, the power shots from Emmett netted him the split decision victory (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Emmett (18-2) is now on a five-fight winning streak with the win. He notified UFC President Dana White and put Volkanovski and Holloway on notice.
"I got one more thing to say. There's a huge title fight in two weeks," Emmett said in his post-fight interview. "I want to be sitting cageside to see who I'm fighting next. Dana [White], give me my shot.
"[Max] Holloway and [Alexander] Volkanovski are arguably some of the best featherweights of all time. So much respect for them, but they need some new blood in the division, and I can get it done."
Emmett and Kattar took different approaches to the entertaining fight. The former relied on his power advantage, while Katter took the systematic method by using his jab and quick hands.
The only time one had the other hurt was in the fourth round when Kattar landed a vicious spinning back elbow followed immediately by a right hand that rocked Emmett for a moment.
With the fight hanging in the balance heading into the fifth and final round, Emmett was the aggressor. He left it all on the line, connecting on the heavier shots, which the judges saw as the deciding factor to put him one step closer to getting the elusive UFC title shot.