HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! “He is going to need Jesus” – Fans go berserk as UFC calls Bryce Mitchell to take short notice fight against Josh Emmett

Bryce Mitchell fills in for Giga Chikadze on short notice against Josh Emmett in their bout scheduled at UFC 296. Mitchell hopes to close out 2023 with a win.

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! “He is going to need Jesus” – Fans go berserk as UFC calls Bryce Mitchell to take short notice fight against Josh Emmett

Bryce Mitchell steps up on short notice against Josh Emmett scheduled at UFC 296 (via YouTube/MMA Weekly)

Bryce Mitchell has stepped in for Giga Chikadze in the UFC 296 featherweight contender prelim. Due to a groin injury, Chikadze withdrew from the fight, allowing Mitchell to meet Josh Emmett on December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The announcement was posted on X, formerly Twitter. With just around nine days to prepare, both Emmett and Bryce Mitchell have a tough fight on their hands. Bryce Mitchell stepping in on short notice against Emmett makes for a great matchup.

YouTube video

Mitchell has a record of 16-1 in MMA and 7-1 in the UFC. He is coming off a victory over Dan Ige in September after a submission defeat to Ilia Topuria. Josh Emmett has an MMA record of 18-4 and a UFC record of 9-4. He is looking to snap a two-fight losing run. His most recent fight, in June, concluded in a unanimous decision loss against Topuria.

FS Video

This short-notice fight adds another layer of intrigue to UFC 296’s already crowded lineup. The main event will feature the welterweight title fight between champion Leon Edwards and Colby Covington. Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight championship against Brandon Royval in the co-main event.

Fight fans react to Bryce Mitchell stepping in on short notice

The news that Bryce Mitchell will be filling in against Josh Emmett at UFC 296 on short notice sent shockwaves across the MMA audience. This sparked a wide range of emotions across social media platforms. MMA fans, known for their passionate participation, lost no time in expressing their feelings about this surprising development.

Fight fans react to Bryce Mitchell stepping up against Joh Emmett on short notice
Fight fans react to Bryce Mitchell stepping up against Joh Emmett on short notice (via Spinnin Backfist)

There were several varied reactions from MMA fans. One common subject among fight fans was their admiration for Bryce Mitchell’s enthusiasm to take the fight on such short notice. Others, on the other hand, voiced worry for Mitchell, recognizing the difficulties of preparing for a high-stakes fight in a short time. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:

https://twitter.com/Davei_Boi/status/1732552912197321130?t=TP5x6JX-CWmf5-zxUL_gLg&s=19
https://twitter.com/PereiraBackflip/status/1732551908609683625

The matchup sparked fans’ interest, with debates raging concerning Mitchell and Josh Emmett’s style clash. Fans made predictions, analyzing each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses and speculating on how the short notice aspect would affect the fight’s dynamics.

In case you missed it: