Bryce Mitchell Bans Himself From Fighting After UFC 296 Knockout

Bryce Mitchell has put himself on his own "concussion protocol" following his devastating knockout defeat to Josh Emmett at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023.

"Thug Nasty" was left convulsing on the floor after Emmett sparked him with a thunderous overhand right. He later thanked Emmett for not landing any follow-up shots.

"Thanks for not hitting me extra, Josh," Mitchell said on Twitter.

"Class act!" Emmett replied. "Wish the sport had more fighters like [Bryce Mitchell]."

Mitchell is considering his health following the defeat, imposing his own "concussion protocol" to keep him away from cage fighting for the time being.

"I'm on my own concussion protocol," Mitchell told ESPN on January 3. "I'll consult with my coaches... we're basically just saying, you know, 'Don't spar for six months.' ...The good thing is i don't have to rush into it [returning]."

Mitchell mentioned how the worst part of his loss was dealing with loved ones afterward:

"The worst part is dealing with everybody afterwards, because they all thought I was dead... On the bright side, that was the easiest fight for me. I've never had a fight where I've come out feeling so great. I just woke up in the ambulance and barely remembered what happened. There's no pain, I'm telling you. But everybody was crying and they thought I was dead; I'm not exaggerating." h/t ESPN

Whilst Mitchell dropped to #10 in the UFC featherweight rankings, Emmett will be looking to secure a title shot with a victory over a big-name opponent.

People have been asking me ‘What’s next?'” Emmett said on Twitter. “I want a clear shot to the title. The best path there is fighting the number one contender and that’s Max Holloway.