Jamall Emmers Record: 23-8-0

Building a record on the regional scene

The chronological story includes some notable early names. Back in 2013, Emmers edged a young Alexander Hernandez by split decision at Pride of the Valley 2, an early sign he could hang with future UFC talent. A 2016 fifth-round TKO loss to Thiago Moisés in an RFA title fight was a hard lesson, but Emmers rebounded in a big way: in February 2017 he handed an undefeated Cory Sandhagen – later a top UFC contender – a unanimous-decision loss, then beat Chris Avila by decision later that year. A 2018 knockout loss to Julian Erosa on Dana White's Contender Series stung, but Emmers reeled off finishes of Caio Machado and Jay Cucciniello in 2019 to force his way into the UFC.

The UFC years

Emmers debuted in March 2020 in a close, competitive fight, dropping a split decision to the surging Giga Chikadze at UFC 248. He earned his first Octagon win that August, outpointing Vince Cachero over three rounds. A 2021 first-round submission loss to Pat Sabatini set him back, but Emmers delivered one of his best performances in February 2023, taking a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Khusein Askhabov. From there it became a back-and-forth stretch: a split-decision loss to Jack Jenkins, a first-round TKO of Dennis Buzukja at UFC 295, a 2024 knockout loss to Nate Landwehr, then back-to-back wins to close the run – a first-round TKO of Gabriel Miranda in 2025 and a unanimous decision over Hyder Amil.

Fighting style

Emmers is a well-rounded, durable featherweight whose wrestling base anchors everything else. His finish breakdown – nine knockouts, three submissions and ten decisions across 22 wins, for a finish rate around 55% – reflects a fighter comfortable winning rounds with grinding pressure but capable of ending nights with his hands, as his quick TKOs of Buzukja and Miranda showed. His grappling pedigree and BJJ black belt make him hard to keep down and hard to dominate positionally. The honest weakness is on the margins: several of his losses have been razor-thin split decisions, and the most dangerous strikers have caught him, which has kept him just outside the division's top tier.

Career highlights

• Beat future contenders on the regional scene — Emmers handed an undefeated Cory Sandhagen a loss in 2017 and edged a young Alexander Hernandez in 2013, both before they became UFC names.
• Upset of an unbeaten prospect — his 2023 unanimous-decision win over 23-0 Khusein Askhabov stands as a signature UFC result.
• Late-career resilience — Emmers closed out his most recent stretch with finishes and decisions, including a first-round TKO of Gabriel Miranda, underscoring his staying power.