Josh Emmett had never been finished in the first round until last night.
At 40 years old, the former UFC interim title challenger still had dreams of becoming the UFC Featherweight Champion.
Emmett said he was in the best shape of his career coming into UFC 320, training with former UFC Champion TJ Dillashaw, who made him puke five times.
Emmett faced off against top contender Youssef Zalal, the only other man to survive the distance against UFC Champion Ilia Topuria.
Zalal made quick work of Emmett, submitting him with an armbar 98 seconds into the opening round.
Some fans think it’s time for Emmett to hang up the gloves after back-to-back losses.
Josh Emmett refuses to retire after UFC 320 loss to Youssef Zalal
Emmett is now 1-4 in his last five fights against top contenders.
The MMA world was brutally honest on what’s next for Emmett.
“Josh Emmett, just retire,” one fan wrote on X.
“Josh Emmett has a fan in me. But it’s time to retire. He had no chance in there tonight against Zalal,” another fan wrote.
“Might be time for Emmett to retire as much as it pains me to say that,” another fan said.
“He’s just too limited at this point, walk forward and throw an overhand right, the game has passed him by and he’s 40,” a fan added.
Despite calls for him to retire, Emmett shared a positive update post-fight.
“Thanks to everyone supporting me on this journey!” Emmett wrote on X.
“Frustrated, to say the least, but all I can do is roll up my sleeves and get back to work!” Emmett added.
It looks like Emmett still has more fight left in him.
Youssef Zalal called out top contender Lerone Murphy
Entering UFC 320, ‘The Moroccan Devil’ Youssef Zalal had hoped to enter the title conversation with a finish of Emmett.
Zalal is now riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak and he has set his sights on the top of the division.
Zalal called out #4-ranked contender and potential next title challenger Lerone Murphy in his post-fight interview.
Joe Rogan responded to Zalal, saying Murphy might be next in line for Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC Featherweight title.
Murphy knocked out former Bellator star Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow at UFC 319.