Former temporary title Featherweight Challenger Josh Emmett ends 15 months of layout when he takes up a growing candidate Lerone Murphy On the main events at UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday (21:00 et on ESPN/ESPN+with prelimy at 18:00 et on ESPN/ESPN+).
Emmett who fought since UFC 296 in December 2023 Bryce Mitchell from the first round of knockout. Before this victory, Emmett was on two-fighting. Murphy still has to suffer loss in his professional career and enters the fight when he won seven consecutive fighting. Each of his last three struggles won a unanimous decision. Both fighters are ESPN.
On Thursday, PFL will host its first event of 2025 because the debut of Welterweights and Featherweights debut A new format for division tournaments promotion.
In the main event of the former Bellator Welterweight champion Jason Jackson he takes over Andrey Koreshkov. Jackson will be his second PFL look. He defeated Ray Cooper III On the exhibition fight on last year’s PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. Koreshkov is 1-1 in pfl. Last beat Goiti yamauchi Unanimous decision during the regular PFL 2024 season.
Andreas Hale spoke to the veteran MMA Coach and ESPN analyst Your Thomas Get his view of the main event UFC. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker adds insight and analysis of the main events and other interesting betting on the card, plus his best Bets for Thursday’s PFL combat card.
Editor’s note: The answers have been modified for brevity and clarity.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy
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Josh Emmett submits an opponent for the year of the year
Josh Emmett sends Bryce Mitchell to a pad with a blow in the first round of their match.
DIN Thomas, MMA coach and ESPN analyst
As Emmett wins: Emmett has the power of the power. This was evident in his fighting against Mitchell, Ricardo Lamas and Michael Johnson. The boys really made a number. But a few things worried me. The first is that he is 40 years old. He had some time off to heal from injuries, but his people told me he felt better than ever. Emmett’s team said he would compete with more physicality than he had in a long time, but I hardly believe it. Maybe trying to persuade. Either way, the big blow must land, because if so, it’s a game.
As Murphy wins: Murphy sold me with his performance against Edson Barboza. It has great tools available and knows when to use them. It moves well, switches attitudes and understands how to get out of difficult situations. His speed and versatility should allow him to run the wheels around Emmett. He will fight cleverly, but can be aggressive if necessary. Murphy can deploy a clinic against Emmett if he gives all his tools to use.
X Factor: The size of the octagon. The smaller octagon on the UFC APEX prefers Emmett to reduce Murphy’s movement. Maybe he will be able to reject Murphy and force him to strike the stroke, which is exactly what Emmett wants.
Forecast: Murphy to win by decision.
Bets analysis
Courses accurate from publication. The most up -to -date courses can be found ESPN bet.
Parker: Emmett to Win (+260). Emmett is a hard test of a litmus for anyone trying to reach the top of the feather division. Although it is a big underdog, I take the Emmett. Emmett has five -wheel experience and faced the highest level competition. It also has a fantastic mad defense and a devastating knockout strength. Murphy will have to prevent Emmett and avoid to avoid discarding after 25 minutes. This is a big request, especially after dropping And IgE in his last fight.
Parker’s best bets for the rest of the UFC card
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Joanderson Brito stuns Andre Fili in the first round
Joanderson Brito is completing Andre Fili in the first round an incredible combo.
Feather weight: Pat sabatini vs. Joanderson Brito
The fight is not a distance. That should be a fun fight as long as it lasts. For me, this struggle ends with only one of two ways: Sabatini gets a submission or Brito gets a knockout. And it is more likely that Brito can do it. We saw the British rivals shoot at a lazy attempt to stop stop after rocking, then undergo or go. Even if I expect this to happen if Sabatini can win on blasting, it is a dangerous threat of subordination.
Female Flynáha: Diana Belbita vs. Dione Barbosa
Barbosa to win inside the distance current. Although she has lost a decision Miranda Maverick In her second fight in UFC Barbosa still worked well and showed that she belongs to promotion. At present, it is the largest popular on the card, but only slightly preferred to win within a distance, and this is the result to which I lean. Two out of five losses in Belbita came through the submission and since Barbosa won three of its seven victories, we will probably see No. 4.
Parker’s Best Bets on PFL First round: Welterweights & Featherweights
Welterweight: Jason Jackson vs. Andrey Koreshkov
Jackson to win (-230). Koreshkov proved to be a devastating striker with combat kicks. To get upset, he must keep this struggle to stand and strike from a distance, but I do not see that it is happening. Jackson can correspond to Koreshkov on his feet, but the biggest disparity is the match and wrestling, where Jackson will have the advantage. Take a look at Jackson, who will use his striking to close the distance in Koreshkov and eventually fight the ground. I expect Jackson to build Koreshkova for a better part of the fight and won.
Feather weight: Jeremy Kennedy vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
Khaybulaev to win by subordinates or decisions. Khaybulaev returns to PFL in the hope of becoming a double champion. It is a hard match for Kennedy, the biggest loser on the card, because Khaybulaev is undefeated and did not show any weaknesses in his game. If Kennedy does not catch him with a lightning knockout, it will be a dominant performance by Khaybulaev. Look at Khaybulaev to close the distance and suffocate Kennedy for a better part of three wheels.
Feather weight: Nathan Kelly vs. Tae kyun kim
Kelly to victory (+105). After his 11-fighting winning lane stopped in his last fight, Kelly could bounce off victory over Kim. Although Kelly is a slight underdog and loss comes, I think it should be preferred. Kelly fought better competition, and if the fight hit the floor, Kelly is a better ground grab.
