The 10 | Closing Out the Year with a Bang
Emmett entered the year on a five-fight winning streak, staring down an interim title fight opposite Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284. That bout went sideways in a hurry, and his return to action in June against Ilia Topuria got away from him, as well, leaving the veteran from Sacramento looking to close out the year with a return to the win column at UFC 296.
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Chikadze returned from an 18-month absence in August, registering a unanimous decision win over Alex Caceres to move his record to 8-1 inside the Octagon. The former kickboxing standout stumbled in his first attempt to claim a place in the title conversation, and aims to learn from that experience and get it right with a victory here.
This feels like one of those fights where regardless of how things play out, we’re going to come away with a better understanding of where each man is at in their respective careers and better equipped to forecast what the future may hold. Plus, it should be entertaining as hell to watch them get after one another when the cage door closes and the referee starts the fight.
Vicente Luque vs Ian Machado Garry
Vicente Luque and Ian Machado Garry face off in the UFC 296 main card opener, serving as the first of three elite welterweight pairings that will grace the Octagon on December 16.
The Brazilian veteran returned to action and the win column in August, halting a two-fight skid with a unanimous decision win over Rafael Dos Anjos. One of the most well-rounded and dangerous fighters in the division, Luque was on the precipice of contention before faltering last year, but can get himself right back there by handing “The Future” the first loss of his career.
