Josh Emmett issues statement on tough loss to Jeremy Stephens

On Saturday night, the UFC returned to Orlando, Florida with an exciting 12-fight FOX card. In the main event, cinderblock-fisted featherweight contenders Jeremy Stephens and Josh Emmett collided in a fight that had Performance of the Night written all over it. In the end, this fight met those expectations, with Stephens coming out on top in the most vicious way possible.

After a close first round, Stephens found the opportunity to do what he does best, wobbling his foe with a punch, and polishing him off series of hellish elbows (and a knee that many onlookers felt they was illegal). Just like that, Emmett was supine on the canvas, and Jeremy Stephens was celebrating his latest act of brutality.

Shortly after this Orlando main event, we learned that Emmett had suffered three separate fractures of his orbital bone. Despite this brutal injury, the Team Alpha Male seems to be in good spirits.

On Sunday afternoon, he took to Instagram to assure his fans that he’s alright, and promise that he’d run it back with Stephens sometime in the future.

Just gonna put some ice on it and I’ll be back! I appreciate all the kind words and concerns. Hats off to @lilheathenmma, you know we will be running that back sometime in the future.

A post shared by Josh Emmett (@joshemmettufc) on Feb 25, 2018 at 11:31am PST

“Just gonna put some ice on it and I’ll be back,” a black and blue Josh Emmett said in his post. “I appreciate all the kind words and concerns. Hats off to [Jeremy Stephens] you know we will be running that back sometime in the future.”

Having come up short in his battle with Jeremy Stephens, where do you think Josh Emmett goes from here?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/25/2018.