Josh Emmett vs. Edson Barboza on deck for UFC Oklahoma City in May

Photo Credit: Jay Anderson - Cageside Press

A featherweight meeting between knockout-artist, Josh Emmett, and Edson 'Junior' Barboza is expected to feature at UFC Fight Night Oklahoma City on May 2nd. - according to an initial report by Combate writers, Raphael Marinho and Zeca Azevedo.

Team Alpha MMA trainee, Emmett, has notched two stunning knockout victories since his loss to Jeremy Stephens - stopping both Michael Johnson, and Bosnia's Mirsad Bektić in devastating fashion. Former lightweight challenger, Barboza will make his featherweight debut at the event - despite asking both Dana White and promotional matchmaker, Sean Shelby to grant him his release from the promotion. It was believed the Brazilian was seeking a move away from the organization - but a featherweight debut has been realised.

Emmett, 35, will make his sixth appearance at 145-pounds, following his move from lightweight back in 2017. The Arizonian burst onto the scene via a first-round knockout over former title challenger, Ricardo Lamas at UFC Winnipeg three years ago. Emmett currently holds the #9 rank at featherweight.

Barboza, 34, will test featherweight waters for the first time - after mixed success at lightweight in recent outings. The American Top Team trainee managed to become the first to finish recent winner, Dan Hooker with strikes back in 2018, via a brutal three-round onslaught. In his most recent outings, Barboza has dropped a one-punch knockout to Justin Gaethje, and in Abu Dhabi last September, lost to Paul Felder in a contentiously judged rematch. Barboza is recognised as one of the most technical Muay Thai practitioners in mixed-martial-arts antiquity - scoring twelve knockouts as a result.

UFC Fight Night Oklahoma City takes place on May 2nd. from the Chesapeake Energy Arena - and is expected to be headlined by a middleweight meeting of former division champion, Chris Weidman, and submission-specialist, Jack Hermansson. In strawweight action, Cláudia Gadelha takes on Marina Rodriguez, while former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski tackles Philipe Lins. At light heavyweight, Ed Herman returns against Da Un Jung, while Sarah Alpar takes on Vaness Melo at 135-pounds. At featherweight, Bryce Mitchell meets with Charles Rosa, while grappling ace Ryan Hall returns against Ricardo Lamas. At 205-pounds, Devin Clark takes on Alonzo Menifeld. In a lightweight pairing, Diego Ferreira makes his return as he matches with recent big winner, Drew Dober.

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