Ilia Topuria says he is certain a title shot awaits him in the near future, but the surging featherweight contender must first take care of business Saturday when he faces recent interim title challenger Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Topuria. Their five-round battle will anchor the main UFC fight card (3 p.m. ET) from VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The No. 8-ranked Topuria has dominated in all five of his UFC appearances and told the media this week he expects his next fight to be for the title. But the coveted prospect must first get past a proven veteran in the No. 5-ranked Emmett, who could make a case for his own title shot should he derail one of the hottest prospects in the promotion.
Topuria is a -325 betting favorite (risk $325 to win $100), while Emmett is priced at +265 in the latest UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Topuria odds from Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, women’s flyweight contenders collide as Amanda Ribas (-195) meets Maycee Barber (+165). Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine combat expert Daniel Vithlani.
Vithlani is a highly analytical UFC…
