The main event features a top-10 UFC Featherweight bout between Calvin “The Boston Finisher” Kattar and Josh “The Fighting Falmer” Emmett. Kattar is coming off back-to-back Fight of the Night performances and is 7-3 in the UFC, while Emmett has won four straight and is 8-2 in his 10 UFC fights.
UFC odds have Kattar as a big favorite and it should be a great night of UFC betting.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett Fight Details
FW – (c) Calvin Kattar (23-5-0) vs. FW – #2 Josh Emmett (17-2-1)
Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022 | Time: 4:20 p.m. ET
Venue: Moody Center – Austin, Texas | TV: ESPN2
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett Odds
Odds to Win: Kattar -240 | Emmett +195
How Will Fight End: KO/TKO/DQ +125 | Submission +700 | Decision -135
Will the fight go the distance? Yes -135 | No +100
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett Analysis
Calvin Kattar is one of the better boxers in the featherweight division and is fresh off beating highly touted striker Giga Chikadze. The contest before was a decision loss to the UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway. Kattar has notable knockouts of both Jeremy Stephens and Ricardo Lamas. The only time Kattar was finished was in 2008 by a James Jones rear-naked choke.
Meanwhile, Emmett hasn’t been as active but does have knockout wins over Michael Johnson, Mirsad Bektic, and Lamas in his past six fights. The last time Emmett tasted defeat was a 2017 knockout loss to Stephens, the only time he’s been finished in his career.
Kattar will be the much larger fighter on fight night, with a five-inch height advantage and two-inch reach advantage. Unfortunately for Emmett, Kattar knows how to fight at range as well. The Boston Finisher claims 48% of his wins by knockout, while The Fighting Falmer sits at 35%.
Emmett has more one-punch knockout power, averaging 1.38 knockdowns per 15 minutes to Kattar’s 0.51. Both fighters average over ten minutes of fight time, with Kattar at 14:40 and Emmett at 11:59.
This fight will primarily take place on the feet, and the volume of significant strikes will play heavily into the result. Kattar lands 0.91 more significant strikes per minute, but that usually comes with allowing more damage. In this case, Kattar absorbs 3.54 more significant strikes per minute.
Emmett has a wrestling background but chooses to strike rather than grapple. Several injuries may have made that choice for him. Neither fighter has an extensive submission finish rate, with 0.1 and 0.13 submissions per 15 minutes.
At rates that low, it doesn’t matter who they belong to. Emmett averages 1.25 takedowns per 15 minutes to Kattar’s 0.51. However, Kattar has an 89 percent takedown defense rate, which re-enforces the unlikelihood that this bout hits the mat.
Despite Emmett’s solid striking defense, Kattar’s size and length will dictate the distance. If Katar was an inferior striker, Emmett could be a sneaky pick. If I learned anything from his most recent win, Kattar is not a run-of-the-mill striker. At +195, Emmett is probably undervalued and should be considered a live dog.
Still, there’s an excellent chance that Kattar overwhelms Emmett and lands at will. There isn’t much value with Kattar as an outright bet, but a finish by KO/TKO or DQ holds some value at +200.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett Predictions
The Picks: Kattar by KO/TKO or DQ (+200)
UFC Odds at BetMGM
BetMGM is the premier destination for updated UFC odds.
You can get closer to the action with a variety of MMA betting opportunities each week. From fight winner odds to live sports betting, there’s something for everyone.
