Josh Emmett became one of MMA’s big winners of 2017 by knocking out Ricardo Lamas at UFC on Fox 26 on Dec. 16. With one left hook, the Team Alpha Male product went from unranked to No. 5 in the UFC’s featherweight rankings.

With such a quick jump toward the top of the rankings, Emmett is left with a predicament: How do you follow up a win like that? In his interview with Top Turtle MMA, Emmett explained how he plans on doing just that.

“I think it makes most sense for Brian Ortega and I to fight, and the winner of us gets the winner of (featherweight champion Max) Holloway and (Frankie) Edgar,” Emmett said. 

Both Ortega and Emmett are new to the top of the division and are seemingly knocking on the door of the title, both likely needing at least one more win for a shot. And although Ortega certainly has gained more notoriety for his crazy submission skills, Emmett isn’t afraid of going to the ground with the specialist.

“I think I match up well [with him],” Emmett said. “He’s phenomenal on the ground. I have great catch wrestling, wrestling, and I have great jiu-jitsu as well. I just haven’t gotten to showcase that yet.”

Emmett's wrestling background flies under the radar, having wrestled at Menlo College, which has produced a slew of UFC fighters including his teammate Danny Castillo and former champion Carla Esparza. 

This stylistic component is one of the many reasons Emmett thinks this is a matchup that he and fans alike can get behind. 

“I think Ortega and I will be an exciting fight for the fans,” he said of the potential showdown. “[It’s] a fight everyone wants to see; everyone keeps talking about it now.”

With both men fighting out of California, the scrap would make for an obvious headliner to a local FightPass card. But Emmett isn’t interested in that option. 

“I don’t know about the commission and the rules in California for the weight,” he said, expressing his frustrations with the state’s policies on additional weigh-ins. 

Plus, Emmett hopes for the extra publicity of a big card. 

“I would like to see that in Vegas," he said. 

Regardless of where the fight takes place, Emmett’s plan is to make it to the top of the featherweight division by the end of the year, and he’s certain he’s on the right track. 

“I just had to get the opportunity that was presented to me with the Lamas fight, and I passed that with flying colors,” he said. “The reason why I went to featherweight is because I know I’ll be a world champion.”

By Daniel Vreeland