Top featherweight contenders will still collide in a UFC main event, but now they have a new date.
Originally set for June 17, [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] will now compete in his second promotional main event against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], who will compete in his first five-round UFC fight, a week later on June 24.
UFC president Dana White officially announced the new date Thursday on Instagram Live.
The bout will headline the event taking place in Jacksonville, Fla., with the venue not yet announced. The main card will broadcast live on ABC and ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET.
Emmett holds the No. 6 spot in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie featherweight rankings, with Topuria not far behind at No. 11.
Emmett (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will look to bounce back from a UFC 284 submission loss to Yair Rodriguez in February. Prior to the setback, Emmett won five straight, including victories over Calvin Kattar, Shane Burgos, and Dan Ige.
Topuria (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) remains perfect as a professional, as he enters his first UFC main event. He most recently competed at UFC 282 in December when he submitted grappling ace Bryce Mitchell.
With the shift, the UFC Fight Night lineup for June 24 now includes:
- Josh Emmett vs. Ilia Topuria
- Maycee Barber vs. Amanda Ribas