Bryce Mitchell knows that his recent knockout almost led to something more gruesome if Josh Emmett continued to rain him more punches. With this, “Thug Nasty” expressed his gratitude towards his conqueror, saying he could have been killed if Emmett had chosen to make follow-up attacks.
The bout of the two was one of the best highlights of UFC 296 last Saturday, with Emmett making a KO win over Mitchell through a right hook at the 1:57 mark of Round 1. The punch immediately sent Mitchell to the ground and later convulsed. The scene caused concern to many, but the fighter managed to stand up after a few minutes. With this, Mitchell feels thankful for how the opponent handled the fight.
Thank you @JoshEmmettUFC
God bless you brother— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) December 18, 2023
“I want to let you all know that I am so happy with Josh Emmett,” Mitchell said in a video posted Monday to his Instagram page. “Right after he knocked me out, he could have followed up with hammerfists, and it probably would have killed me. He didn’t even follow up with anything. He was just happy with his knockout, and he walked away. And I’m so gracious for that; I will forever remember that. Thank you for not hitting me extra, Josh.”
As Mitchell shared, the punch caused him to momentarily become oblivious about the situation until he was sat down in the ambulance. As such, aside from Emmett, the fighter thanked Joe Rogan and UFC for handling him properly after the knockout.
Emmett himself admitted that the punch was powerful but shared in the post-fight press conference of the event that he “can’t celebrate,” thinking how Mitchell’s coaches and family were feeling at that moment.
“I didn’t know he was that hurt, then I looked over and I see that and I’m like, sh*t, I can’t celebrate, you know what I mean?” Emmett shared. “…It’s tough ‘cause I imagine what his coaches are looking at. You know, they’re seeing him in like a very vulnerable spot, and I can’t even imagine his family.”
