Josh Emmett‘s viral knockout of Bryce Mitchell resurfaced after Mitchell’s controversial Holocaust denial comments, which were widely condemned, but despite the ongoing attention, Emmett holds no personal grudge against Mitchell and wishes the UFC would promote the knockout more prominently.
Josh Emmett had watched his knockout of Bryce Mitchell countless times. Yet, the clip found a new audience recently.
Back in January, Mitchell made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He launched a podcast and then shockingly revealed his Nazi sympathies, defending Hitler and denying the Holocaust. UFC CEO Dana White was quick to criticize, labeling Mitchell as “literally one of the dumbest human beings.”
Despite White’s disapproval, he chose not to discipline Mitchell. Instead, he quipped, “for all of you that hate Bryce Mitchell, you get to see him hopefully get his ass whooped on global television.”
That’s when Emmett’s UFC 296 knockout resurfaced, going viral once more.
“I saw that he was trending,” Emmett told MMA Fighting. “People tag me saying ‘Josh, you did this to him.’ My interactions with Mitchell have always been respectful.”
Emmett acknowledges that Mitchell should be cautious with his words due to his large platform.
Although Mitchell never fully apologized, he admitted Hitler did evil things and acknowledged the Holocaust’s reality.
This doesn’t erase his previous statements’ damage, and Emmett realized that the knockout remains significant because of it.
Interestingly, Emmett recalled a fan Q&A from years ago. During it, he mentioned wanting to fight Hitler—an ironic twist given recent events.
“The internet is undefeated,” Emmett remarked about how everything tied together online.
As much as Emmett disagrees with Mitchell’s comments, he bears no personal grudge against him. Their interactions have been cordial.
The knockout likely haunts Mitchell, but it’s become an inescapable highlight reel. Emmett wishes the UFC would embrace it more.
“It’s non-stop,” Emmett said. “Everything I post on X or elsewhere gets tagged with it.” He feels for Bryce seeing it constantly resurface.
Yet, curiously, the UFC doesn’t promote that knockout like others. “I’m like what in the hell?” Emmett wonders aloud.
Emmett returns to action soon at UFC Vegas 105 against Lerone Murphy. He’s puzzled why his knockout isn’t celebrated more by the UFC.
He’d love to see it alongside other iconic moments like Max Holloway’s punch against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
“They could show the knockout,” Emmett suggests. “Just maybe skip what happened after.”