It’s been four years since Anthony Johnson last competed in mixed martial arts (MMA), but the former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight title contender looked as good as ever after such a lengthy layoff.
In the opening round, Johnson encountered some danger after he was rocked and dropped by Jose Augusto, a first for “Rumble.” After some good defense, Johnson managed to escape the round, which included a rear-naked choke attempt from the big man.
In round two, however, Johnson unloaded a heavy right hand that dropped Augusto flat on his back. For good measure, “Rumble” dove in to deliver a huge hammer fist to put an end to the fight, securing himself a knockout win in his Bellator debut.
This is how close Johnson was close to being put away:
How close was @joseaugustomma to shocking the world in Round 1?
But it wasn’t meant to be… #Bellator258 rolls on live on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/HRWkLk4EQz
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) May 8, 2021
Now, Johnson will face current 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov in a semifinal match up of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. Not only does “Rumble” get the chance to win the title in just his second fight for Bellator, he can earn a spot in the finals of the tournament, which will give the winner a $1 million payout.
For full Bellator 258: “Archuleta vs Pettis” play-by-play updates and results click here.