UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell has banned himself from contact for six months following his brutal knockout loss.
The featherweight prospect was on the receiving end of a brutal one-punch KO loss to Josh Emmett at UFC 296 last December.
REUTERSBryce Mitchell locked horns with Josh Emmett at UFC 296 last December[/caption]
GETTYThe featherweight prospect suffered a brutal one-punch KO defeat[/caption]
GETTYMitchell convulsed on the ground after the KO – which has prompted a six-month no-contact period[/caption]
A brutal overhand right seconds before the two-minute mark left Mitchell unconscious on the octagon canvas, where he had a post-traumatic seizure.
Mitchell, thankfully, was given the all-clear by doctors after a trip to the hospital – although he won’t be returning to the cage any time soon.
The American told ESPN: “I’m on my own concussion protocol.
“I’ll consult with my coaches, too, and we’re basically just saying, ‘You know, don’t spar for six months.’
“I’ve got to [build a new house] and [I’m expecting my first child], but then I’m right into my next training camp after that.
“The good thing is that I don’t have to rush into it.”
Fight fans were concerned that Mitchell may have suffered a serious brain injury when he lay twitching on the octagon canvas.
But he played it down by saying: “I do that in my sleep anyway. So, I’m not really worried about that part.”
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GETTYBryce Mitchell believes Josh Emmett could have killed him if he’d landed some follow-up strikes[/caption]
The pain of defeat in the short-notice Sin City showdown was outweighed by the initial fears for his health.
He said: “The worst part is dealing with everybody afterwards, because they all thought I was dead.
“Everybody that I knew was crying.
“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.”
Mitchell believes he may not lived to have to tell the tale of that fateful Las Vegas night had Emmett decided to follow up with hammerfists.
He said: “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.”