Kevin Vallejos wants to fulfill his dream of becoming a UFC champion following his win over Josh Emmett.
Vallejos was riding a six-fight winning streak entering UFC Vegas 114. He had a tough task in front of him in Emmett. Vallejos passed the test with flying colors. “El Chino” scored a first-round TKO finish to improve his pro MMA record to 18-1 and extend his winning streak to seven.
It was a big moment for Vallejos, who spoke to UFC’s social media team after the fight (h/t MMAFighting).
“I’m here to leave my mark,” Vallejos said in his UFC post-fight interview. “I’m here for my name to be etched in this division. I came to do things. To [create] an image. To stomp my foot and to do something with this division and to be a champion.
“I want to tell people that I belong here, not that I’m just a boy, a baby that came in here and maybe is being fast tracked to success.”
Vallejos hasn’t lost a bout since Sept. 2023. That bout took place on Dana White’s Contender Series. Vallejos dropped a unanimous decision against Jean Silva, who is currently a member of the UFC roster.
Vallejos eventually made his way back to the Contender Series, stopping Cam Teague in the opening frame via TKO. “El Chino” made his UFC debut in March 2025, defeating Choi Seung-woo with another first-round finish.
The rising star from Argentina went on to defeat Danny Silva via unanimous decision before delivering a highlight reel spinning backfist knockout over Giga Chikadze. Emmett is the biggest name Vallejos has beaten up to this point. He’s hoping to riding the wave of momentum all the way until he reaches the top of the featherweight mountain.
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