Preview: UFC on ABC 5 Prelims

Featherweights

Jamall Emmers (19-6, 2-2 UFC) vs. Jack Jenkins (11-2, 1-0 UFC)

ODDS: Emmers (-200), Jenkins (+170)

Jenkins is part of the latest wave of rising Australian prospects, and it will be interesting to see how much hay “Phar” can make in the UFC. Jenkins is not a particularly explosive athlete, but he is a well-rounded fighter with an impressive level of strength, most notably when it comes to throwing his signature leg kicks. Add in some durability and an aggressive mentality, and Jenkins is built to win the wars of attrition he is likely to face at the UFC level. He earned his contract Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 with a wrestling-heavy mauling that showed off some effective ground-and-pound. His UFC debut resulted in a much more complete performance against Don Shainis, as he kept up the pace, stayed ahead of his counterpart in every phase and walked away with the decision. Emmers is a difficult ask for Jenkins’ next assignment, as he is one the more underrated tough outs on the UFC roster. A pro since 2012, Emmers was on the verge of a UFC call-up for years prior to his 2020 debut, where he nearly walked away with what would have been a huge win over Giga Chikadze. A former wrestler, “Pretty Boy” has spent years trying to build out a slick striking game that looks like it has finally come together. The result? He has become quite effective at neutralizing his opponents. He is difficult to outwrestle, and as a long athlete who now has some defensive craft, he is also hard to hit cleanly. Jenkins does have a knack for taking whatever openings his opponent presents—those leg kicks could be a path to great effectiveness—but there also does not seem to be any phase in which the Australian has a clear advantage, which makes the American seem worth the flier. This figures to be an even fight in the aggregate, but the pick is Emmers via decision.

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