(This story first appeared on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017.)

MMAjunkie Radio cohost and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom provides an in-depth breakdown of all of UFC on FOX 26’s main-card bouts, and today, we look at the co-main event.

UFC on FOX 26 takes place tonight at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and the main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

ALSO SEE: UFC on FOX 26 main-event breakdown: Can Rafael dos Anjos survive Robbie Lawler’s initial storm?

* * * *

Ricardo Lamas (18-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC)

Staple info:

Height: 5’8″ Age: 35 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 71″

Last fight: TKO win over Jason Knight (July 29, 2017)

Camp: MMA Masters (Chicago)

Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing

Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ NCAA Division III All-American wrestler

+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt

+ 5 KO victories

+ 5 submission wins

+ 6 first-round finishes

+ Consistent pace and pressure

+ Accurate shot selection

+ Dynamic kicking arsenal

+ Strong inside the clinch

+ Solid takedown ability

+ Excellent top pressure

^ Effective ground striker

+ Superb transitional grappler

^ Scrambles, rides, back takes

+ Deceptive submission acumen

Josh Emmett (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)

Staple info:

Height: 5’6″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 70″

Last fight: Decision win over Felipe Arantes (Oct. 21, 2017)

Camp: Team Alpha Male (California)

Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing

Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ NAIA collegiate wrestler

+ Regional MMA titles

+ 3 KO victories

+ 2 submission wins

+ 4 first-round finishes

+ Consistent pace and pressure

+ Good feints and footwork

^ Will shift stances

+ Heavy right hand

^ Coming forward or off the counter

+ Strong inside of the clinch

+ Solid takedown ability

+ Good transitional grappler

^ Scrambles, strikes, submissions

+/- Fighting on short notice

Summary:

The co-main event in Winnipeg features a featherweight battle between Ricardo Lamas and Josh Emmett.

Originally slated for a rematch with Jose Aldo, Lamas – a perennial top contender in the division – will be tasked with taking on another rising talent.

Stepping in on short notice is Emmett, a former lightweight who is making a seven-week turnaround from a successful featherweight debut.

Scheduling intangibles aside, I expect this contest between two former collegiate wrestlers to be a competitive one, particularly on the feet.

A dynamic stick-and-move stylist, Lamas has steadily sharpened his striking arsenal during his past years spent at MMA Masters. Typically circling on the outside, Lamas will dictate range with a healthy mix of prodding attacks that are fueled by solid feints and footwork.

Often faking one direction to explode into another, Lamas is a hard man to get a beat on.

The Chicago native can go from throwing fundamentally sound jabs to spinning wheel kicks, but he has no issue with punishing his opponents’ legs from a distance when he needs to. And when his opposition forgets about his boxing presence, Lamas can usually remind them with the hooks, crosses and uppercuts he keeps at the ready.

Nevertheless, Lamas will have to stay alert defensively given that his opponent has a presence at multiple ranges as well.

An athletic and explosive mover, Emmett displays similar stylistic nods to his Team Alpha Male stablemates to go along with what appears to be an eye for technical detail.

Circling along the outside, Emmett will offer an array of looks in effort to create different angles of approach. Whether he is feinting heavy and shuffle-stepping his way into range with his right hand or shifting to southpaw to enter off kicks, Emmett has power in almost everything he throws.

Emmett also carries craft to his game, demonstrating slick head movement and an awareness of angles that speaks louder than one would expect from his resume. A deceptive counter puncher, Emmett does well when walking his opponent’s into his favored heavy right hands. That said, Emmett will need to mind being countered himself considering that Lamas keeps solid check-hooks and crosses chambered (as seen in his fight with Max Holloway).

Regardless of who edges out striking stanzas, I suspect that this matchup may be decided by each fighter’s intention to grapple.

Emmett is the more aggressive pursuer of takedowns on paper, but I am not entirely sure he will be sprinkling in his attempts in this fight. Although I am sure that Team Alpha Male has Emmett confident in his guillotine defense, shooting in on Lamas could ultimately end up playing into his hand in other ways.

A superb transitional grappler, Lamas has done a fantastic job in melding his wrestling base with savvy jiu-jitsu skills. From floating and riding off of a front headlock to pining and pressuring when necessary, he has a lot to offer from all positions. Should Emmett enter grappling engagements, his risk management will need to be turned up to 10.

That said, Emmett is no slouch on the mat himself. He knows his way inside of a scramble, and he can pass and strike with competency from topside when he wants. From the bottom, Emmett is not afraid to attack what’s there – chaining chokes, leg locks and other submissions that he parlays into scramble opportunities in which he uses to stand.

The oddsmakers and public opinion are fairly clear, listing Lamas -275 and Emmett +235 as of this writing.

There is a lot to like about Emmett’s game, but I have to agree with the betting lines above. Emmett may have a slight power and output edge on paper, but I feel that Lamas’ savviness at range and ability to counter will damper those numbers. Furthermore, I also suspect that there may be a skills gap in regards to grappling that may come to light.

Although Emmett is a talented wrestler who trains with excellent and experienced grapplers, that does not necessarily guarantee that he can beat others of similar level, much less one as tested as Lamas.

Don’t get me wrong: I see Emmett being able to defend submissions and hold his own in exchanges. I am just not sure he will be the one who is dictating terms.

Emmett – who despite his wrestling abilities – has shown he is not beyond being taken down when inside of the clinch or against the cage. And considering he does his best work in said space, I could see Lamas, who’s 7-1 in fights when scoring a minimum of just one takedown, winning crucial points of a competitive affair. Lamas by a consensus decision is the call.

Official pick: Lamas by decision

For more on UFC on FOX 26, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.