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After his fight with Bryce Mitchell was promoted to the main card of UFC 296 later in the week, Josh Emmett delivered a big kickoff to the card when he scored a shocking first-round knockout.
Mitchell entered the fight as the favorite at the betting window, due in part to his reach and impressive grappling. But Mitchell never had a chance to use either tool before falling to the canvas.
Emmett scored 1:57 into Round 1 after firing an overhand right hand that struck Mitchell's jaw cleanly.
“I’m the strongest featherweight in the world,” Emmett said after the fight. “It only takes one shot.”
After regaining consciousness, Mitchell remained on unsteady feet as UFC officials helped him walk to the locker room.
Mitchell took the fight on short notice when Emmett's original opponent, Giga Chikadze, was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury.
The win was a big one for Emmett, who started 2023 with an 0-2 record on Saturday. After losing an interim featherweight title fight to Yair Rodríguez, Emmett suffered a decision loss to Ilia Topuria in June.
The victory was also Emmett's first stoppage win since he stopped Mirsad Bektic with punches in July 2019.
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