As UFC 320 draws near, promising an electrifying championship double-header, the rigorous preparation involved in elite-level fighting is once again brought into focus. Ahead of the anticipated event, featherweight contender Josh Emmett has candidly discussed his exceptionally tough training camp, revealing that former Bantamweight King TJ Dillashaw pushed him to such extreme limits that he vomited multiple times.
This coming Saturday, the main event will see Alex Pereira face off against champion Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight title. In the co-headliner, the UFC Bantamweight Championship is at stake as Merab Dvalishvili defends his belt against formidable contender Cory Sandhagen.
TJ Dillashaw, a revered figure who once dominated the 135 lb division and was known for his legendary work ethic, may have retired at 39 due to injuries, but his influence in the training room remains potent. He recently applied his intense coaching style to a top contender preparing for a crucial upcoming bout.
Josh Emmett Claims Peak Condition Following Dillashaw Camp
Despite being 40 years old, Josh Emmett confidently states he is in the finest physical shape of his career. The former top-5 featherweight, a renowned knockout artist, is scheduled to return at UFC 320. He aims to bounce back from an April decision loss to Lerone Murphy with a victory over Youssef Zalal this weekend.
A long-standing member of the esteemed Team Alpha Male, Emmett made a surprising choice for his latest training camp: he trained alongside TJ Dillashaw, historically one of their greatest rivals. “The first workout, I was like, I haven’t felt this in the last four or five camps,” Emmett told Full Send MMA, explaining the rationale behind his decision to embrace Dillashaw`s unique and demanding training regimen.
Emmett recounted Dillashaw’s stark warning regarding the intensity: “He was telling me people don’t come back after this because they realize how hard it is.” Yet, Emmett’s renowned mental toughness propelled him forward. “Everything’s mental and that’s my strongest attribute. So, I just kept coming back and I was throwing up. He had a red bucket that had my name on it and I was like, f— that bucket…”
He detailed the challenging ordeal: “I think it was like the fourth time that I didn’t throw up. But I take that back because the fourth time I didn’t throw up, I celebrated. I went home. I had to pull over because I threw up in my mouth. I had to spit it out. So it’s the fifth time I told him, and then I came back the fifth time, and then I finally said that bucket’s no longer undefeated. That was just the start of it, man. That’s 8-9 weeks ago. So, I am in the best shape of my life. I can’t wait to go out there and perform,” Emmett concluded, exuding confidence in his preparation and readiness for UFC 320.
Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal: A Shared History with Ilia Topuria
Interestingly, Josh Emmett isn`t the sole fighter to have battled the formidable UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria to a decision. His upcoming opponent, Youssef Zalal, notably holds the distinction of being the first man to reach the judges’ scorecards against the then-undefeated Topuria in 2020. This occurred during Topuria`s UFC debut, which he took on short notice when his record stood at 8-0.
Emmett, however, is unique in having endured five full rounds with Topuria. Despite suffering a lopsided decision loss in 2023 and nearly being stopped multiple times, Topuria himself publicly praised Emmett for his exceptional toughness and resilience following their main event clash.
