Team Alpha Male warrior Josh Emmett is now interested in a rematch with Alliance MMA’s Jeremy Stephens, following the controversy of their UFC on FOX 28 match up.
The two mixed martial arts warriors headlined the UFC’s latest card on Saturday night, Feb. 24, putting on a show for the Orlando, Fla. crowd inside the Amway Center. Stephens ultimately earned a knockout finish over his opponent, but the finish has since come under some controversy.
Stephens struck Emmett with a series of strikes that have been questioned as potentially illegal blows. Emmett was struck with a knee and several elbows to the head, leading to the controversy.
Speaking on the latest edition of The MMA Hour, Josh Emmett revealed his thoughts on the matter. Emmett started by referencing the referee for the night, Dan Miragliotta.
“I’m not saying he’s a dirty fighter at all, but after watching it, I just wish I had more of a fair chance. I wish Dan would have done his job. If he would have stopped the fight, I would have gotten a little time to recover or they maybe took a point away from Stephens. It could have been a completely different outcome.”
Speaking on the knee that struck him in the head, Emmett explained:
“I just thought it was a blow. I didn’t know what hit me. But it definitely skimmed me after watching it and coming down. And regardless of the new rules or the old rules, I was still a downed opponent, because both knees were down. Even if one hand or two hands was up, it was still an illegal blow.
“It was a fight. I know he wasn’t trying to do that in the heat of the battle. But man, there’s a reason why there’s rules in place. So I think they should have implemented them. It’s frustrating now. But it is what it is.”
“You’re trying to win the fight, we both are. I don’t believe he’s a dirty fighter, either. I don’t believe he was doing it on purpose. But I can’t say that, because I don’t know what he was thinking. So maybe he was, but I would hope he wasn’t trying to do that, which I don’t think he is. But it’s still, a rule is a rule. I just can’t get over that. Otherwise, there should be no rules and it should be Pride rules. If there are rules that are set, they should be obeyed.”
Emmett then revealed that he would like a rematch with the fighter.
“I would like a rematch. I won the first round, I was winning the second round, doing really well. He caught me just perfect, little left hook on the chin. I was composing, getting back up and then I just felt like some of those illegal blows made it a lot worse for me.”
