Joshua James Emmett Bio
Joshua James Emmett is an American professional mixed martial artist born on March 4, 1985, in Phoenix, Arizona. He competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and has been active in professional MMA since 2011. Emmett is known for his explosive fighting style and wrestling background.
Early Life and Background
Emmett was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, in a challenging family environment with a single mother and a late brother named Nick. He wrestled for 14 years, starting at El Camino Fundamental High School and continuing through his college years. Emmett wrestled his first two seasons at Sacramento City College before transferring to Menlo College, where he earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree studying psychology with intentions of entering law enforcement.
After college, Emmett joined Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness to pursue combat sports. He is also an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, holding a purple belt and having won a World championship in the blue belt no-gi division.
Path to MMA
Emmett began his professional MMA career in 2011, debuting as a Featherweight in Capitol Fighting Championship. Despite breaking his hand in the first round, he secured a unanimous decision victory. After surgery and recovery, he competed in the West Coast Fighting Championship (WFC), where he amassed several wins including a unanimous technical decision to claim the WFC Lightweight Championship.
He also competed in King of the Cage, winning via submission, and secured the ISCF Pro California Lightweight Title. These early successes established Emmett as a rising talent in regional MMA promotions and paved his way to the UFC.
Joshua James Emmett Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Emmett started his professional career with a strong 9–0 record, fighting primarily in regional promotions such as Capitol Fighting Championship and West Coast Fighting Championship. He demonstrated versatility with wins by knockout, submission, and decision, including a notable technical decision victory to win the WFC Lightweight title. His early career was marked by resilience, overcoming injuries such as a broken hand that required surgery and long layoffs.
During this period, Emmett honed his skills under the guidance of Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness team, developing a well-rounded fighting style that combined wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu with striking.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Breakthrough (2016–Present)
Emmett signed with the UFC after his undefeated streak and made his promotional debut in May 2016 as a short-notice replacement. He won his debut fight via split decision despite suffering a finger fracture. Over the following years, Emmett faced top featherweight contenders, securing key victories such as a first-round knockout over Ricardo Lamas in 2017 and a third-round knockout of Michael Johnson in 2019.
He earned multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, highlighting his exciting fighting style. Emmett has demonstrated resilience, returning from injuries including facial surgery and a severe leg injury. He has fought notable opponents like Jeremy Stephens, Mirsad Bektić, Calvin Kattar, and Yair Rodríguez, contending for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship in 2023.
Emmett currently fights out of Sacramento, California with Team Alpha Male, continuing to compete at a high level in the featherweight division.
Driving Style and Strengths
Emmett is known for his explosive striking and strong wrestling base. His ability to blend aggressive stand-up with grappling skills makes him a versatile and dangerous opponent. His resilience and tactical approach have earned him several Fight of the Night honors, reflecting his exciting and durable fighting style.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Emmett’s career include winning the WFC Lightweight Championship, earning multiple UFC performance bonuses, and competing for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship. His first-round knockout of Ricardo Lamas and comeback wins after injuries are highlights of his career.
Joshua James Emmett Career Wins
Joshua Emmett has accumulated 19 professional wins across various MMA promotions, including the UFC, King of the Cage, and West Coast Fighting Championship. His victories include knockouts, submissions, and decisions, showcasing his well-rounded skill set.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Highlights
In the UFC, Emmett has secured several notable wins, including a first-round knockout of Ricardo Lamas and technical knockout of Mirsad Bektić, which earned him a Performance of the Night award. He has also earned multiple Fight of the Night bonuses for exciting bouts against Shane Burgos, Calvin Kattar, and Ilia Topuria.
Other Wins & Performances
Before joining the UFC, Emmett won the WFC Lightweight Championship and the ISCF Pro California Lightweight Title. He also holds a World championship in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the blue belt no-gi level.
Joshua James Emmett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Emmett grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, in a single-parent household with his mother and late brother Nick. There is no public information about a family history in combat sports.
Personal Life
Joshua Emmett is married to his wife Vanessa. They reside in Sacramento, California. Details about children or other family members have not been publicly disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Emmett continued competing in the UFC featherweight division. He faced Lerone Murphy in April, losing by unanimous decision, and Youssef Zalal in October, where he was submitted via armbar in the first round. Despite these setbacks, Emmett remains a ranked featherweight contender. He is scheduled to fight Bryce Mitchell in December 2023 after a last-minute opponent change, aiming to regain momentum. Emmett’s experience and resilience position him as a persistent competitor in the division moving forward.