Rob Emerson

Ultimate Fighting Championship Emerson faced fellow Team Penn teammate, Gray Maynard, on the undercard of The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale. Maynard dominated in the first round (the only effective work of Emerson's being a flying knee and a takedown). The second round began with Gray picking up Emerson and slamming him to the canvas. Due to an aggravated injury of the ribs, Emerson submitted. During the fall, however, Maynard accidentally spiked himself on the floor and seemingly rendered himself unconscious. The bout was declared a no-contest.

In his next fight at UFC 81, Emerson won a split decision over Keita Nakamura. Nakamura dropped Emerson with a knee at the end of the first round after Emerson had outstruck him for much of the round. Emerson came back strong in the second round, landing crisp combinations that left Nakamura's face a mess. Nakamura scored takedowns in the third round on a visibly tiring Emerson, but it was not enough to win him the split decision as the scores read (30–27, 28–29, and 30–27) in favor of Emerson.

At UFC 87, Emerson knocked out Manvel Gamburyan in only 12 seconds, earning him "Knockout of the Night" honors.

His next fight at UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens was against Kurt Pellegrino. Emerson lost the fight at 3:14 of the second round due to submission (rear naked choke); the first submission loss of Emerson's professional career.

Emerson was scheduled to fight George Sotiropoulos at UFC 101 but was forced to withdraw because of a hand injury and was replaced by George Roop.

Emerson lost at UFC 103 by decision to Rafael dos Anjos on September 19, 2009. He agreed to the contest after Matt Wiman was forced to withdraw after suffering a knee injury.

Emerson next faced Phillipe Nover on February 6, 2010, at UFC 109 and won a unanimous decision.

Emerson faced Nik Lentz at UFC Fight Night 21. He lost via unanimous decision and was released from his UFC contract.

Independent promotions Emerson defeated Rodney Rhoden by TKO in round one at Pure Combat 12.

Emerson faced Eric Reynolds at AOF 10 on December 4, 2010. He won the fight via split decision.

Emerson fought Justin Salas at Full Force Fighting: Vol. 1 on January 29, 2011. Emerson lost to Salas via unanimous decision.

Emerson defeated WEC Veteran Savant Young at Tachi Palace Fighting 12: Second Coming via rear-naked choke submission in round three.

Emerson defeated Jason Williams at FCOC: Fight Club OC via rear naked choke. Following this, he fought at the next Fight Club OC event, defeating Musa Toliver by triangle choke.

Bellator MMA Emerson was expected to face Patricio Freire at Bellator 97 on July 31, 2013, when he would make his Featherweight and Bellator Debut. However, on July 12, 2013, it was announced that Emerson would withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Jared Downing.

Emerson eventually would make his Bellator debut against Jared Downing on October 18, 2013, at Bellator 104. He won the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.

Emerson made his Bantamweight debut against Joe Taimanglo on April 11, 2014, at Bellator 116. He won via unanimous decision.

Emerson faced Rafael Silva at Bellator 127 on October 3, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Subsequently, California State Athletic Commission suspended Emerson for 18 months after testing positive for prescription drug Modafinil. The suspension was then reduced to five months.

Regional circuit After his stint in Bellator, Emerson signed with Victory FC where he became both Bantamweight and Featherweight champion in his first two fights, respectively. He lost his Bantamweight Championship before signing with Russian promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat where he eventually racked a 1–2 record.

Emerson was next scheduled to face Charles Bennett in a bare-knuckle MMA bout at Gamebred FC 2 on September 11, 2021. However, the event would be rescheduled for October 1, 2021. Emerson won by knockout in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Gray Maynard Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Manny Gamburyan Victory Fighting Championship VFC Bantamweight Championship (One time; former) VFC Featherweight Championship (One time; current)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Charles Bennett KO (punches) Gamebred FC 2

Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Loss

Dileno Lopes Submission (Guillotine Choke) ACA 101: Strus vs. Nemchinov

Warsaw, Poland Loss

Mikhail Malyutin Decision (unanimous) |ACA 93: Balaev vs Zhamaldaev

St. Petersburg, Russia Loss

Magomedrasul Khasbulaev Submission (rear-naked choke) WFCA 54: Dudaev vs. Taimanglo

Isa Town, Bahrain Win

Shamil Shakhbulatov Decision (unanimous) |ACB 87: Whiteford vs Mousah

Nottingham, England Loss

Raufeon Stots Decision (unanimous) VFC 56

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Ryan Roberts TKO (knee injury) VFC 54

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Shawn West Submission (rear-naked choke) VFC 51

Urbandale, Iowa, United States Loss

Rafael Silva Decision (unanimous) Bellator 127

Temecula, California, United States Win

Joe Taimanglo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 116

Temecula, California, United States Win

Jared Downing Submission (inverted heel hook) Bellator 104

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Win

Musa Toliver Submission (triangle choke) FCOC: Fight Club OC

Costa Mesa, California, United States Win

Jason Williams Submission (rear-naked choke) FCOC: Fight Club OC

Costa Mesa, California, United States Win

Savant Young Submission (rear-naked choke) TPF 12: Second Coming

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Justin Salas Decision (unanimous) Full Force Fighting: Vol. 1

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Eric Reynolds Decision (split) Art of Fighting 10

Estero, Florida, United States Win

Rodney Rhoden TKO (punches) Pure Combat 12: Champions for Children

Clovis, California, United States Loss

Nik Lentz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Phillipe Nover Decision (unanimous) UFC 109

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rafael dos Anjos Decision (unanimous) UFC 103

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Kurt Pellegrino Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Manvel Gamburyan KO (punches) UFC 87

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Keita Nakamura Decision (split) UFC 81

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NC

Gray Maynard NC (double KO due to slam) The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kenji Arai Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Blow 6

Yokohama, Japan Win

Takafumi Ito Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Blow 4

Tokyo, Japan Win

Jamie Schmidt TKO (punches) TC 13: Anarchy

Del Mar, California, United States Win

Julian Samaniego TKO (punches) KOTC 61: Flash Point

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Melvin Guillard Decision (split) RCF: Cold Hearted

Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Loss

Randy Velarde Decision (majority) KOTC 44: Revenge

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Joe Camacho Decision (unanimous) KOTC 41: Relentless

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Justin Berkley Submission (arm-triangle choke) TC 3: Total Combat 3

Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Loss

Dokonjonosuke Mishima Decision (unanimous) Deep: 14th Impact

Osaka, Japan Loss

Javier Vazquez Decision (split) Shooto USA: Warrior Spirit: Evolution

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Chris Brennan Submission (fatigue) Hitman Fighting 3

Santa Ana, California, United States Loss

Jamal Perkins Decision (unanimous) KOTC 19: Street Fighter

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Jens Pulver Decision (unanimous) UW: Ultimate Wrestling

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States