Josh Emmett plans lightweight return after featherweight skid

Josh Emmett plans to return to lightweight for his next UFC appearance after dropping three consecutive fights at 145 pounds.

The 41-year-old told MMA Fighting's José Youngs that he expects to compete somewhere between October and early December, likely at 155 pounds. Emmett has been stopped in the first round in back-to-back outings, most recently by Kevin Vallejos at UFC Vegas 114 in March, and believes the weight cut to featherweight is compromising his performance. "The cut to '45 is just crazy," he said. "It's so hard and I think it is affecting my performances. I think my next fight, you guys will see me back at lightweight."

Emmett's lightweight history and featherweight struggles

Emmett fought at lightweight early in his career, winning nine straight fights and claiming regional titles before joining the UFC in 2016. After a split-decision loss to Desmond Green at 155 pounds, he moved down to featherweight and won six of seven bouts, earning an interim title shot against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284. Since that submission loss to Rodriguez, Emmett has gone 1-4 and is now 1-5 over his last six appearances.

The veteran acknowledges that lightweight remains stacked with talent but sees the move as necessary. He also expressed interest in competing for Real American Fighting, the wrestling promotion that has been signing MMA fighters. "If you could tell me that I would get paid to do a wrestling match, a six- or seven-minute wrestling match, I would do it all day, and not get punched in the face?" Emmett said. "I wrestled since I was a young child, all the way through college, and I never got a dime for wrestling."

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Josh Emmett eyes return to UFC lightweight division for next fight