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Tag: anthony johnson

  • Anthony Johnson Tells Buffer To “Stay Off The Crack” After Bellator Snub

    Anthony Johnson has put out a warning towards Bruce Buffer.

    Anthony Johnson is coming to the defense of himself and all other former UFC fighters who have taken other opportunities. Recently, Bruce Buffer has come out and spoke about how he feels UFC fighters are not better off when they leave the organization. Johnson, who left the UFC back in Dec. of 2020, decided to sign with Bellator. He has found happiness in his new fight home and wants people to know that the UFC is not the end-all, be-all in fighting.

    Buffer who was discussing the probability of Francis Ngnanou leaving the UFC in search of other fight opportunities, had this to say.

    “No offense to other organizations, but you become irrelevant when you leave the UFC after a while,” Buffer said on his podcast (via MMA Mania). “Instead of losing in the UFC your contract is being ended in the UFC and you fall from the Octagon down into the Bellators.”

    Johnson took offense to this since he is now one of the top light heavyweight fighters on the Bellator roster. Johnson has admitted to being happier with Bellator and having a better financial situation. Johnson took to Instagram to respond to Buffer.

    “Bruce needs to stay off crack,” Johnson commented on a post. “How’s anything irrelevant when providing food and shelter for family? Oh, by the way, I got paid way more for moving to another organization. Bruce has his guaranteed money so he can talk,” Johnson finished. “Fighters have to wait and actually entertain people when they get the chance to make some money.”

    More and more frequently, we are seeing former UFC fighters heading in a different direction when they become free agents. Some have decided to try their hand at boxing, like Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Others have proven that different MMA organizations could be a nice fit. Bellator is a common landing spot along with PFL and now Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA organization, Eagle FC.

    Johnson has also come to the defense of Nagnnou during his negotiation problems with the UFC. Johnson has been inactive in Bellator since he was forced out of the light heavyweight Grand Prix due to illness. He is still not back in action, and according to Scott Coker, could be out for several more months.

    Do you think there are better opportunities out there for former UFC fighters?

  • Anthony Johnson Still Not Cleared For Bellator Return, Reveals Scott Coker

    Anthony Johnson may not fight again for a little while.

    Johnson was supposed to face Vadim Nemkov in the light heavyweight semifinals but was forced to pull out of the fight with an undisclosed illness. Now, according to Bellator President Scott Coker, “Rumble” is still dealing with that and remains out.

    “I talked to him about a week ago and we had a very good conversation,” Bellator president Coker told MMA Junkie. “Without getting too much into his medical condition, he’s got to worry just about being healthy first. Fighting will always be there. I told him to keep doing what he’s doing, keep listening to the doctors and keep at it. We’re going to be here, we’re not going anywhere. If you get cleared at some point, we’ll definitely have you back.

    Anthony Johnson
    Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea of USA Today Sports

    “I think he has a little ways to go, to be honest, and we’re going to be there rooting him on. But until he gets clearance – I don’t look at it like he’s going to be fighting in six months or four months or eight months,” Coker continued about Johnson. “Let him take his time, let him get healthy and when he gets healthy we can have a conversation. If it’s a year from now, 18 months from now, or six months from now, we’ll get at it. But until then, he’s got to heal up and get healthy because there’s so much more in life than just fighting. I want him to have a long, healthy life and that’s the most important thing.”

    Anthony Johnson had a successful Bellator debut back in May at Bellator 221, where he knocked out Jose Augusto in the opening round of the grand prix. It marked his first fight since UFC 210 where he was submitted by Daniel Cormier for the UFC’s light heavyweight title.

    In his career, Rumble holds notable wins over Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, Alexander Gustafsson, Andrei Arlovski, Phil Davis, and Jimi Manuwa. He is also a fan-favorite due to his one-punch KO power, so the hope is he will be able to fight sometime in 2022.

    Who would you like to see Anthony Johnson fight when he returns?