By: Fasika Zelealem
UFC on ESPN 11: Josh Emmett vs. Shane Burgos odds and betting prediction
The co-main event for UFC on ESPN 11 is a highly exciting bout between featherweights Josh Emmett (15-2) and Shane Burgos (13-1). This fight hasn’t gotten the publicity it deserves despite the fact both fighters are ranked in the top ten of the featherweight division; a stacked one at that.
Furthermore, a win for either fighter could land them a top-five opponent, a possibility that is made truer with Frankie Edgar who is ranked seventh in the division decided to drop down to bantamweight to fight Pedro Munhoz on Fight Island.
Both fighters are on a winning streak with Burgos stringing three wins in a row by way of submission, split decision and TKO over Makwan Amirkhani in his last bout. Emmett has won two in a row against quality opposition in Michael Johnson and Mirsad Bektic in which he knocked both out and in the former’s case, a walk-off KO put Johnson down in the third round.
Burgos is 6-1 in the UFC and the challenge of Josh Emmett, who is finding his stride after four years in the company, is a tough test for the 29-year-old. The New York native spoke on the importance of making a statement on Saturday night and how the smaller cage at the UFC Apex could help benefit his performance.
“I’ve got to go out there and put a stamp on this one. I’ve got to make a statement. As corny and cliché as it sounds, I’ve got to go out there and not just beat Josh Emmett, but I’ve got to beat Josh Emmett. I’ve got to finish him,” Burgos told Cageside Press at Thursday’s UFC on ESPN 11 media day.
No judges, in other words. Perhaps the smaller cage utilized at the UFC Apex can help facilitate that. “100%. It forces the action,” said Burgos. “I love the small cage. All my career before the UFC was in the small cage. I train in the small cage. Basically, when the referee says go, you’re fighting, because there’s only about ten feet between you and your opponent right off the bat.”
With the Veteran Emmett Have Enough in the Tank Against Burgos?
Emmett, who was fighting at lightweight upon his arrival in the UFC in 2016, made his decision to return to featherweight in 2017 and has since beaten Felipe Arantes, knocked out former title challenger Ricardo Lama. However, he has also been on the receiving end of a Jeremy Stephens barrage that gave Emmett his second professional MMA loss.
The 35-year-old feels he’s cemented his reputation as the hardest-hitting featherweight in the division and will look to finish Burgos on Saturday night.
“I always said I feel like I’m the hardest hitting puncher in the featherweight division,” Emmett told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Thursday’s UFC on ESPN 11 virtual media day.
“This is the fight game,” Emmett said. “I understand all the trash talk and stuff, but that’s not me. I’m going to go in there, I’m going to look to finish the fight, and I’m exciting every time I fight whatever I’m doing.
UFC on ESPN 11 Odds: Emmett vs. Burgos Betting Prediction
DraftKings sportsbooks has the odds on the fight, and it’s a real close one people. Burgos is listed as the favorite with odds of -143 to win the fight while Emmett comes in as the underdog with odds of +115 to claim the victory. They however possess the same odds of +225 to win by any knockout, submission, or DQ.
This fight is not going the distance and I have Emmett knocking out Burgos in the second round to rise to seventh in the rankings.
