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WINNIPEG – Josh Emmett knows that most people outside of his friends, family and teammates are picking against him vs. Ricardo Lamas in Saturday’s UFC on FOX 26 co-main event. He’s OK with that, though, because it will just make the upset that much sweeter.

Emmett (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) fights former UFC featherweight title challenger Lamas (18-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) as an injury replacement on less than one month’s notice after former UFC champ Jose Aldo was removed from the matchup in favor of a UFC 218 title rematch with Max Holloway. That gave the Team Alpha Male product the opportunity of a lifetime, and he plans on making the most of it.

“Biggest opportunity, biggest fight of my life,” Emmett told MMAjunkie at Thursday’s UFC on FOX 26 media day. “These are the opportunities I wanted since I got into the UFC. I’m going to seize the moment. … This is a true Rocky story. It’s just awesome. I’m going to go out there and show people that I belong here.”

UFC on FOX 26 takes place at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Emmett vs. Lamas co-headlines the FOX-televised main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Ahead of the biggest fight of his career, Emmett is coming off his most significant victory to date. He battered Felipe Arantes to a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 118 in October, connecting with a single-round UFC record four knockdowns in the opening frame.

Although Emmett admits he was somewhat angered by his inability to put Arantes away despite repeatedly placing the Brazilian in danger, he did take away some positive lessons from that fight, which he plans to apply vs. Lamas.

“It was definitely disappointing,” Emmett said. “This is the longest I’ve gone without a finish, so I’m definitely due for a finish. Hopefully we’ll see one on Saturday night. I know I have power. I know I have speed. I just have to stay patient and pick my shots, and the knockout will come.”

The UFC featherweight division is loaded with talent, and in the more than five-year history of the weight class, Lamas consistently has held a position near the top of the rankings. Emmett wants to take that spot for himself, and a victory at UFC on FOX 26 would put him well on his way.

“He’s one of the best fighters in the world,” Emmett said. “He has been at the top of the game for his whole career. I just have to go out there and perform, do what I do best and that’s win. If I show up, and I just perform, I can beat him.”

For more on UFC on FOX 26, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Filed under: News, UFC, Videos