Josh Emmett knocks Bryce Mitchell OUT COLD with devastating right hand in the first round of their clash at UFC 296… leaving his featherweight rival in a heap on the canvas
Josh Emmett started the UFC 296 main card with a brutal first-round knockout against Bryce Mitchell.
The fight started with both men passively scanning the Octagon, much to the dismay of the fans. But as the Las Vegas crowd started to leave, Emmett landed a right-handed haymaker to put Mitchell's lights out.
The knockout occurred at 1:57 when Mitchell lay stiff on the canvas and was unable to get up for the official decision.
After the fight, Emmett acknowledged his opponent's toughness but reiterated his place as the most powerful hitter in the featherweight division.
βI want to thank Bryce for taking the fight,β Emmett said. βHe's a dangerous guy, but I'm the most powerful featherweight in the world and it only takes one shot.
Josh Emmett started the main card of UFC 296 with a brutal knockout against Bryce Mitchell
Emmett landed a right-handed haymaker to turn off Mitchell's lights and end the match
The knockout occurred at 1:57 when Mitchell lay stiff on the canvas and was unable to get up for the official decision.
Mitchell accepted the fight on two weeks' notice after Emmett's original opponent Giga Chikadze withdrew due to injury.
Mitchell, 16-2, was riding the momentum of a decision victory over Dan Ige in September when he suffered his second career loss.
On the other hand, Emmett bounced back from a loss to featherweight title challenger Ilia Topuria in June.
With the win, Emmett moves to a 19-4 record with seven knockouts.
Earlier in the evening, former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt scored his second straight victory by knocking out Brian Kelleher in the first round.
The fight started back and forth with Kelleher using leg kicks on the former champion. However, Garbrandt's forward pressure and combinations began to break through Kelleher's defense as he headed for the early finish.
He staggered and chased Kelleher into an exchange before landing a clean right hook in the center of the Octagon.
Kelleher fell face first and Garbrandt walked away when referee Mark Goddard stopped the fight at 3:42.