Josh Emmett open to rematch with Ricardo Lamas after brutal first-round KO win

Josh Emmett claimed that he is open to a rematch with Ricardo Lamas following his first-round knockout of the former title contender in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 26 on Saturday night.

Emmett stepped up on short notice to face Ricardo Lamas, who lost his initial opponent whenJose Aldo replaced Frankie Edgar for his title fight with Max Holloway at UFC 218.

The Team Alpha Male fighter talked the gathered media in Winnipeg through his highlight-reel knockout at the post-fight press conference.

“Like I said all night, man, that’s Joey Rodriguez boxing at it’s finest,” said Emmett. “I’ve been working with my boxing coach going on almost five years. And I’ve been just watching film with my coaches Felipe, Danny, Joey, and Urijah.

“We’ve been breaking down Lamas’ style and I’ve had two teammates and a coach that have fought him, so that really played well into my favor as well.

“I was hoping to lure him into my game, and that’s like an all out brawl where I can roll and land punches or if I could drag him in, coming in I could catch him with that check hook.

“He threw the leg kick, he was trying to beat up my shins — it seems like everyone is trying to do that now since the (Jeremy) Stephens and (Gilbert) Melendez fight — so I ate that to throw an overhand right and just came back with that check hook and found the chin.”

Emmett claimed that he didn’t want to celebrate too much following the victory after seeing Lamas rendered unconscious from his left hook.

“It’s a little tough to watch. Afterwards I was really excited that I got the win of course, but then when I see him down there still, and you know, he’s got a wife and kids,” he explained. “You know, his family is here so I wish that on nobody. I can’t really celebrate too much when I see something like that.”

Out of appreciation for Lamas giving him the opportunity to fight him despite coming in over weight, Emmett suggested he would be open to a rematch with the 35-year-old.

“Of course. He did this for me. He didn’t have to take this fight. You know, he’s one of the best guys in the world,” Emmett said.

“It was risky for him. He probably could’ve sat back and waited for the Edgar-Holloway fight and get a title fight, or fight Ortega and the winner of that would get a title fight.

“I’m truly grateful for him accepting the fight. And then, as well as even with me missing the weight, he still took it.

“I had to give up 30 percent of my purse, so that’s more than normal. So I think I paid the price for that and I had to be excluded from the performance bonuses. But if there is an exception that the UFC or Dana White can do, I’ll gladly take that $50,000 bonus.”