Josh Emmett’s time is now, wants Brian Ortega in a UFC title eliminator

Josh Emmett picked up the biggest win of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career by knocking out Ricardo Lamas in the very first round at UFC on FOX 26 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Now, Emmett has his sights set on bigger and better challenges, as he is calling for a title eliminator fight against another surging featherweight, Brian Ortega.

“I want to be a world champion like I said, so if something was presented to me like a title shot, like I said, I’ll take that in a heartbeat,” Emmett said on The MMA Hour via MMA Fighting. “But I know (Frankie) Edgar and (Max) Holloway, they’re in talks about fighting. I think Edgar has definitely earned it, so what makes the most sense to me is maybe if Brian Ortega and I fight. The winner of us gets the winner of Edgar-Holloway,” he added.

Ortega racked up his fifth straight win by strangling longtime veteran Cub Swanson a few weeks ago (see it again here). And the winner, of course, should get the next title shot against the winner of current division champion Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar, who is expected to face “Blessed” next.

For Emmett, defeating Lamas is the product of years of hard work, and 2018 will only be brighter for the 32-year old.

“This is my time, and this is what I’ve been wanting for so long, and I knew it would come eventually,” Emmett said. “I just had to keep chipping away and grinding at this, what I’ve been chasing. And it’s here, and that’s why I seized the opportunity. I pounced on the opportunity to fight Lamas, and I just can’t wait to see what 2018 holds for me,” he concluded.

Indeed the future looks good for the entire 145-pound weight class.