Josh Emmett was originally scheduled to take on Giga Chikadze at UFC 296, but Chikadze pulled out the match due to a pulled groin. In stepped Bryce Mitchell.
Mitchell now faced Emmett in the featured bout on the UFC 296 preliminary card. It was the first time the fight promotion had offered Mitchell a short-notice fight and he took the fight on 10-days notice.
“He’s just durable. He’s proven. He’s fought a lot of great opponents,” said Mitchell of Emmett on Michael Bisping’s YouTube channel. That’s what also, on the flip side, you can’t argue when I beat this guy, if I beat this guy, I’m proven and you know it. You’ll know it. The results will speak for themselves.”
“Eventually people are going to realize I can fight with the best. I can beat the best. I believe I am the best. I’m just trying to convince everyone else of that,” Mitchell continued.
Mitchell’s only loss came to Ilia Topuria, and Topuria is fighting Alexander Volkanovski for the title at UFC 298 in February. Emmett is coming off back-to-back losses to Yair Rodriguez and Topuria.
“I’m just going to go for it. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity, the biggest opportunity I’ve had. I’m just going to go for it. I’m going to fight with no fear. I’m going to fight to the best of my ability, and I know this,” said Mitchell.
“I just feel I’m so well prepared that I’m going to win. That’s just how I feel about it. I believe I know how I’m going to win. I believe I know what to do and I believe I have that skillset. I’m confident and I’m happy. The opportunity came out of nowhere. It was just great, and this is a whole another discussion but I’ve been praying on this. I’ve been praying, God, give me something. Get me out of here. Give me something new in my life. Bam. The call comes,” Mitchell said.
“After this last fight, I did’t know what was going to happen with the next fight and I was just praying, ‘please give me something. Give me a good matchup. God, give me something were I can progress.’ This is a blessing.”
Mitchell is ranked 10th in the UFC’s 145-pound division. A win over Emmett could potentially land him in the Top 5. Emmett is one of the toughest opponents Mitchell has faced in his 17-fight career.
https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/bryce-mitchell-im-going-to-win
