Josh Emmett knocks Bryce Mitchell OUT COLD with devastating right hand in the first round of their clash at UFC 296... leaving his featherweight rival in a heap on the canvas

Josh Emmett began the UFC 296 main card with a brutal first round knockout over Bryce Mitchell. 

The fight began with both men passively feeling out the Octagon to the fans' displeasure. But as the Las Vegas crowd began to fizzle out, Emmett landed a right-handed haymaker to shut Mitchell's lights out. 

The knockout took place at the 1:57 mark as Mitchell laid stiff on the canvas, unable to get up for the official decision.  

After the fight, Emmett acknowledged his opponent's toughness but reiterated his place as the most powerful hitter in the featherweight division. 

'I wanna thank Bryce for taking the fight,' Emmett said. 'He is a dangerous guy but I am the most powerful featherweight in the world and it only takes one shot. 

Mitchell accepted the bout on two weeks notice after Emmett's original opponent Giga Chikadze withdrew due to injury. 

Mitchell, 16-2, rode the momentum of a decision win over Dan Ige in September as he suffered his second career loss. 

On the other hand, Emmett bounced back from a loss to featherweight title challenger Ilia Topuria in June.

With the win, Emmett moves to a 19-4 record with seven knockouts. 

Earlier in the evening, former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt scored his second straight win by knocking out Brian Kelleher in the first round.

The bout began back and forth with Kelleher utilizing leg kicks on the former champion. However, Garbrandt's forward pressure and combinations began to break through Kelleher's defense as he went for the early finish.

He wobbled and chased Kelleher down in an exchange before landing a clean right hook in the middle of the Octagon. 

Kelleher fell face-first and Garbrandt walked off as referee Mark Goddard stopped the fight at the 3:42 mark.