UFC on FOX 28: Stephens vs. Emmett
Date: February 24
Arena: Bamway Center
City: Orlando, FL
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed back to Orlando, FL for the third time in promotional history with UFC on FOX 28: Stephens vs. Emmett. The 13 fight card is scheduled to kick off with preliminary action on UFC Fight Pass at 4:15 p.m. ET. Prelims will continue on FOX at 6 p.m., and the main card will be underway on the same channel at 8 p.m.
These are my fighters to watch at UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando:
Josh Emmett
After defeating Ricardo Lamas via first round knockout in what was the biggest fight of his career, Emmett faces Jeremy Stephens in what is now the new biggest fight of his career. He went from his first co-main event slot to his first main event slot, and he will be looking to leave it all inside the Octagon in an effort to get his hand raised. Emmett has his sights set on a title shot and he feels nothing can get in his way. Undefeated since dropping down to 145 pounds, I believe this underdog is a fighter to keep an eye on this Saturday night, as I think an impressive victory could potentially catapult him into title contention.
Alan Jouban
It’s “do or die” time for Jouban, who is on a two fight losing skid inside the Octagon, with both losses coming via stoppage. He is taking on a friend in Ben Saunders for this matchup, but that makes no difference for him, as “Brama” plans to add another knockout to his highlight reel on Saturday night. He wants to have a beer with Saunders after the fight, but first he wants to put his lights out. This fight is on Jouban’s wife’s birthday and it’s the first fight his son will be watching, so he will be looking to make a big impression.
Albert Morales & Manny Bermudez
Bermudez is an undefeated bantamweight making his UFC debut and he will be taking on the stiffest test of his professional mixed martial arts career in Morales, who is in dire need of victory after falling on a two-fight skid. Morales has faced nothing but tough opposition in his five-fight UFC run, where he has put together a 1-3-1 record. Bermudez is a talented prospect with a bright future ahead of him, and Morales is playing a bit of a gate-keeper role in this contest. That was the role he played in his last bout a few weeks ago in Fresno, where he lost a unanimous decision to another promotional newcomer in Benito Lopez. This “do or die” time for Morales now in this quick return to action, and Bermudez could prove to be too tough a puzzle for the Octagon veteran to solve. These are two talented 135 pounders who will be going at it to kick off the preliminary fight card, and I believe they will do so on a high note.
