UFC on ABC 5: Emmett vs. Topuria Odds, Schedule, Predictions

Ilia Topuria is a rising star in the featherweight division. Josh Emmett is an always-dangerous veteran on the edge of contending. The two will both look to take a step closer to the title in the main event of UFC on ABC 5 from Jacksonville, Florida.

Emmett is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Yair Rodriguez. Emmett succumbed to a triangle choke in the second round from El Pantera.

The loss alone won't keep him out of the title picture. He was on a five-fight win streak before that loss, but it puts additional pressure on him to come through in this spot.

Topuria has yet to taste defeat in his professional career. El Matador is a perfect 5-0 in the UFC and 13-0 since making his pro debut in 2015.

Here's a look at the complete card with the latest odds and predictions for the afternoon's featured bouts.

Main Card (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

• Josh Emmett (+285) vs. Ilia Topuria (-345)
• Maycee Barber (+160) vs. Amanda Ribas (-190)
• Austen Lane (+160) vs. Justin Tafa (-190)
• David Onama (+185) vs. Gabriel Santos (-215)
• Brendan Allen (-190) vs. Bruno Silva (+160)

Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+, 11:30 a.m. ET)

• Neil Magny (-170) vs. Phil Rowe (+145)
• Randy Brown (-240) vs. Wellington Turman (+200)
• Loik Radzhabov (+110) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (-130)
• Tabatha Ricci (-135) vs. Gillian Robertson (+115)
• Joshua Van (+175) vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (-205)
• Chepe Mariscal (+105) vs. Trevor Peek (-125)
• Jamall Emmers (-205) vs. Jack Jenkins (+175)
• Cody Brundage (-165) vs. Sedriques Dumas (+140)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

From a narrative standpoint, this one is a tale as old as time. Topuria is the up-and-coming prospect and Emmett is the veteran welcoming him to the big leagues.

In terms of the actual fight, it's an interesting clash of styles.

Emmett is a power puncher in the truest sense. He throws everything like he's got to get to his car before the meter runs out. His power has seemed to taper off a bit. his last three wins have come by decision but the impact of his punches can still win rounds.

Topuria has shown he has the pop in his hands to finish fights as well. He submitted Bryce Mitchell in his last outing but he scored three knockout wins before that.

The 26-year-old also has strong wrestling to rely on if things aren't going his way on the feet. Emmett is not inept in the grappling department but he's more at home when he's unleashing massive hooks.

This one should produce action all over the cage. If Topuria isn't careful he could get caught by one of Emmett's bombs and the fight could change in a hurry.

But it's hard not to give his quickness and more complete game the nod here.

Prediction: Topuria via decision

Maycee Barber was once regarded as the next big thing in the women's flyweight division. After getting a UFC contract on the strength of a TKO win on Dana White's Contender Series, she kicked off her UFC career with three straight wins.

But Barber's early success was a story of too much too soon. She was humbled in a unanimous decision loss to Roxanne Modafferi and dropped a second consecutive fight to Alexa Grasso.

Since then, Barber has been working her way back into the limelight. pulling a co-main event slot on an ABC card is another positive step.

She does not draw an easy assignment in Amanda Ribas. The 29-year-old has derailed hype trains for Mackenzie Dern and Paige VanZant and holds a 6-2 record in the Octagon.

Ribas has strong wrestling that she can use to neutralize better strikers but is comfortable on the feet too.

She's not as explosive as Barber, but this is a matchup where the fighter that controls where it takes place is going to be the winner. In this case, it's easier to see Ribas forcing Barber to be one the defensive with her takedown attempts in about that could easily go the distance.

Prediction: Ribas via decision

Once upon a time, Austen Lane was a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fans aren't likely to remember his two-year stint with the team (2012-2013) that yielded just three sacks but it won't stop the Jacksonville crowd from rooting for the former football player.

Lane has been plying his craft as an MMA fighter since 2017 but is just getting his first shot in the UFC at 35 years old. As one would suspect, he's a strong athlete with impressive length and speed for a heavyweight.

The former fifth-round draft pick is 12-3 on the regional scene with all 12 of those wins coming by either knockout or submission.

He'll be facing six-fight UFC vet Justin Tafa in his promotional debut. Tafa has a background in rugby so the two are similar in their unorthodox paths to MMA. Tafa is a powerful striker with back-to-back knockout wins over Harry Hunsucker and Parker Porter in his last two fights.

This one should be a heavyweight slugfest. Those are always somewhat hard to predict because it usually comes down to who lands cleanly first.

So let's go with the hometown favorite here. Tafa is slightly more technical but Lane is the longer and more athletic fighter.

Prediction: Lane via first-round TKO

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