Kevin Vallejos rooting for only opponent to beat him to capture UFC title

Kevin Vallejos defeated Josh Emmett by first-round stoppage in his first UFC headliner on Saturday, underscoring momentum in the featherweight division. At UFC Vegas 114, Kevin Vallejos finished Josh Emmett at 3:33 of Round 1. He said potential bouts with Alexander Volkanovski, Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega, or Jean Silva would be appealing. Vallejos has seven straight wins, including four in the UFC, and previously lost a unanimous decision to Silva on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2023. He noted continued improvements over callouts, earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus, and outlined plans to invest and build a gym in Mar del Plata, Argentina.