Bryce Mitchell thanks UFC 296 opponent Josh Emmett for not following up with deadly blows after brutally knocking him out cold in Las Vegas: ‘It probably would’ve killed me’
- The knockout left Mitchell unconscious before he fell to the canvas convulsing
- Emmett earned a $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus with the first round victory
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UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell expressed his gratitude to UFC 296 opponent Josh Emmett two days after a brutal knockout in Las Vegas.
The pair opened the final pay-per-view of the year for the UFC when Emmett defeated Mitchell cold in the first round. The right-handed haymaker landed within three minutes as Mitchell fell stiffly to the canvas. Moments later, Thug Nasty went into convulsions while the UFC medical staff attended to him.
On Monday, a well-recovered Mitchell shared a video on Instagram from his farm in Arkansas. In the clip, he thanked Emmett for not hitting him with what could have been fatal follow-up shots.
βI just want you to know how happy I am with Josh Emmet,β Mitchell said. “Because right after he knocked me out, he could have followed up with the hammer fists and that probably would have killed me.”
βHe didn't even take action,β he continued. 'He was just happy with his knockout and walked away. I am so grateful for that and I will remember that forever.β
Bryce Mitchell thanked Josh Emmett for not hitting him with deadly hammerfists at UFC 296
Emmett scored a brutal first-round knockout over Mitchell to open the pay-per-view card
The knockout blow left Mitchell stiff and unconscious before he fell to the canvas convulsing
Mitchell praised Emmett and his camp team Alpha Male before reiterating his gratitude.
βAnd I love that whole team, that Alpha Male team, I love all of you,β he added. “Thanks for not hitting me extra, Josh.”
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. The win over Mitchell lifted Emmett to a 19-4 record with seven knockouts. Emmett also earned a $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus starting Saturday.
Both men remained atop the featherweight rankings after UFC 296, with Mitchell at No. 10 and Emmett at No. 6.