Josh Emmett has seen his knockout victory over Bryce Mitchell countless times, but the spectacular finish gained renewed attention recently.
In January, Mitchell faced criticism for expressing Nazi sympathies and Holocaust denial on his podcast. UFC CEO Dana White condemned Mitchell`s views, labeling him “one of the dumbest human beings,” but stated he wouldn`t punish the fighter. White suggested that those critical of Mitchell would find satisfaction in seeing him lose on television.
Subsequently, Emmett`s UFC 296 knockout of Mitchell, which abruptly ended their fight, went viral again.
Emmett acknowledged seeing the renewed interest, stating, “I noticed he was trending, and people were tagging me, referencing the knockout.” He added that in his personal interactions, Mitchell has always been respectful, and Emmett reciprocates this respect. Emmett commented, “He needs to be mindful of his public statements due to his platform.”
Mitchell later partially walked back his statements, acknowledging Hitler`s atrocities and the reality of the Holocaust. However, this didn`t erase the impact of his initial remarks, and Emmett believes this controversy contributes to the continued virality of their fight`s ending.
Emmett mentioned a resurfaced fan Q&A from years ago where he stated he would want to fight Hitler. He found it “crazy” that the internet connected this to Mitchell`s comments, further fueling the knockout`s renewed popularity. “The internet is undefeated,” Emmett remarked, noting Mitchell will likely face ongoing reminders of the knockout.
Despite disagreeing with Mitchell`s controversial statements, Emmett harbors no personal animosity towards him due to their respectful interactions. He feels no need to fabricate conflict.
The knockout, in Emmett`s view, was always likely to follow Mitchell, but its current inescapability is amplified by recent events.
Emmett expressed a desire for the UFC to promote the knockout more prominently. He noted that while the UFC showcases other knockouts extensively, his against Mitchell is seemingly overlooked. Emmett feels the internet is driving its viral spread instead.
Emmett, preparing for his fight against Lerone Murphy at UFC Vegas 105, is unsure why the UFC hasn`t highlighted his knockout. He speculated that Mitchell`s dramatic fall and post-knockout state might be factors.
Emmett wishes his knockout received the same recognition as other impactful UFC moments, such as Max Holloway`s knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, which was widely circulated. He believes his knockout was equally, if not more, impressive and suggests the UFC could omit showing the immediate aftermath.
Marcus Blakely