Myktybek Orolbai: UFC Vegas 114 Predictions Ahead Of Emmett vs Vallejos
Myktybek Orolbai — Saturday’s UFC Vegas 114 main event pits veteran Josh Emmett against rising star Kevin Vallejos in Las Vegas, with early prelims beginning at 5: 00 pm ET and the main card scheduled for 8: 00 pm ET on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The matchup is framed as a make-or-break moment for the 24-year-old Argentinian and a late-career test for the 41-year-old Emmett.
Myktybek Orolbai: Main Event Breakdown — Vallejos vs Emmett
The central storyline for the main event is the contrast between Vallejos’ momentum and Emmett’s veteran standing. Vallejos, 24, earned a UFC contract after two appearances on the Dana White Contender Series; he lost a competitive decision to Jean Silva in his first appearance and secured a contract in his second. He opened his UFC tenure with three straight wins and most recently stopped longtime contender Giga Chikadze, positioning him for his first headlining spot in the octagon.
Emmett has a long career with notable victories over proven strikers and has been durable throughout his run. He turned 41 in March and has managed just one win in his past five outings. At one point he rode a five-fight winning streak that culminated in an interim title challenge at UFC 284, where he fell short against Yair Rodriguez. Emmett’s resume includes going five rounds with Ilia Topuria and overcoming fighters such as Calvin Kattar, Shane Burgos and Michael Johnson. He has been stopped just once in a 25-fight career, by Jeremy Stephens.
Stylistically, Vallejos is a dynamic striker whose speed and cardio are expected to pose problems for the older Emmett. The prediction outlook emphasizes Vallejos’ chances to exploit age and pace, with a likely outcome being a late stoppage in the middle rounds if Vallejos can keep the fight standing and pressure Emmett’s historically sturdy chin. If Emmett mixes wrestling and avoids extended striking exchanges, he retains a path to frustrate the prospect and extend the fight into deeper waters.
Card Timing, Support Bouts and Betting Angles
The event takes place inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the full card will stream live on Paramount+. Early prelims start at 5: 00 pm ET, followed by the six-fight main card at 8: 00 pm ET.
Beyond the headliner, notable matchups include a rescheduled pairing between Amanda Lemos and Gillian Robertson, which was initially pulled months earlier due to a medical issue on Lemos’ side. The winner is viewed as a logical next challenger at strawweight if the division’s title picture follows the assumed schedule for a strawweight title defense later this year.
On the undercard, a veteran middleweight matchup between Brad Tavares and Eryk Anders projects to be a measured affair. One pre-fight betting angle favors the fight going the distance, with a market line shown at -185 for “Go to decision, ” reflecting both fighters’ history of durable, tactical bouts and relatively infrequent stoppages.
What To Watch For And Next Steps
Key indicators on fight night will include Vallejos’ ability to sustain a high tempo and penetrate Emmett’s defense, and whether Emmett can successfully integrate wrestling to neutralize the speed disparity. A decisive Vallejos victory would accelerate his rise in the featherweight ranks; a win for Emmett would represent a meaningful late-career rebound.
After the event, immediate consequences will be shaped by who stands tallest in the headliner and the outcome of the Lemos–Robertson rematch, which could rearrange challengers at 115 pounds. Fans and bettors should tune in at the listed start times on Saturday to see how the predictions hold up.
