Tag: Anthony Johnson

Rumble Would ‘Maybe’ Fight Jon Jones In MMA Return

Anthony Johnson could still throw down with Jon Jones down the road. Following his second failed attempt at capturing the UFC light heavyweight division’s throne, ‘Rumble’ announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Johnson was submitted by Daniel Cormier in the second round of their UFC 210 main event last night (Sat. April

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Anthony Johnson could still throw down with Jon Jones down the road.

Following his second failed attempt at capturing the UFC light heavyweight division’s throne, ‘Rumble’ announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Johnson was submitted by Daniel Cormier in the second round of their UFC 210 main event last night (Sat. April 8, 2017).

Many fans were hoping that Johnson’s tumultuous knockout power would be enough for the former Blackzillian to get the job done against Cormier, setting up a fight that many MMA fans have been gunning for between ‘Rumble’ and ex-light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. The pair were initially set to meet in the main event of UFC 187 back in 2015, but Jones embroiled himself in some legal issues out-of-competition and Cormier stepped in to win the vacated title against Johnson.

During his post-fight press conference Johnson seemed pretty firm on his retirement claim but noted that if he did ever return to the UFC he could take on ‘Bones’ in a bout a heavyweight (quotes via MMA Fighting):

“I’m an alpha male, he’s an alpha male. I wanted to see what I can do against him,” Johnson said. “I’m pretty sure he wanted to see what he could do against me, because you guys hyped it up so much, that I was supposed to be the guy to beat him and all this and that. You guys do your job very well, hyping things up, so props to you.

“But I feel I’m more, I don’t know if I want to say sad (or) disappointed, for the fans, because I know they really wanted to see it. Day in and day out, people were always talking about Jon Jones and myself fighting each other, and it just never happened. Maybe if I decide to come back one day, we can fight at heavyweight or something like that.”

Do you think we’ll ever get to see Johnson and Jones test themselves against one another inside the Octagon?

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Daniel Cormier Compares Himself To Hated WWE Champion

Daniel Cormier isn’t the most beloved champion on the UFC’s roster today, and he compares the hate he’s received to that of WWE Superstar Roman Reigns in the world of professional wrestling. Yesterday (Sat. April 8, 2017) Cormier successfully defended his 205-pound title against knockout artist Anthony Johnson, who subsequently announced his retirement from mixed

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Daniel Cormier isn’t the most beloved champion on the UFC’s roster today, and he compares the hate he’s received to that of WWE Superstar Roman Reigns in the world of professional wrestling.

Yesterday (Sat. April 8, 2017) Cormier successfully defended his 205-pound title against knockout artist Anthony Johnson, who subsequently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition following the contest, for the second time in his championship career. Despite pulling off a great finish in the second round, the crowd was still unable to get on ‘DC’s’ side following the win.

During the post-fight press conference yesterday Cormier addressed his current heat with the MMA fan base, and compared it to the same hate that pro-wrestling champion Roman Reigns, who comes off of a big victory of his own when he retired The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33 last week, suffers in the WWE (quotes via FOX Sports):

“I was watching WWE WrestleMania last weekend and I said wow it would be great if Roman Reigns pins the Undertaker clean. It’s how the old school guys do business. Monday night, Reigns walked out to the ring and they booed him for 10 minutes, would not allow him to talk but it was the most organic crowd that they’ve had in a really long time. He said ‘this is my yard’ and he left. It was perfect because they were playing the game for him. That’s me,” Cormier said.

“If I’m in the Octagon and I’m berating Jimi Manuwa and Jon Jones, it’s my Octagon. I’m the one in there fighting right now with that gold belt. So you’re going to sit there and you’re going to take it. I insisted they didn’t put a microphone by either one of them. Sit there with the camera in your face and just take it. Because I’m the one out there laying it on the line. They don’t like it, it’s fine.”

While Cormier was a little pondered as to why fans booed him at first, he’s grown to remain indifferent on the matter. As long as you’re invested in his fight, Cormier couldn’t care less for your reaction towards him:

“Initially, I was taken back a little bit by people booing me, but then I realized, anyone that knows me and anyone that has spent any time with me, they don’t feel that way. They don’t want to boo me. They don’t feel they want to be away from me. They enjoy the time that we spend together and those are the people that matter. If people want to boo, that’s fine, just don’t not care,” Cormier saod. “That’s all I care about. Just don’t be indifferent. As long as you care, I am fine.

“So when they’re booing in there, it’s fine. It just bounces off me.”

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UFC 210 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

UFC 210 was another strange UFC event.
Controversey in the middleweight co-main event, a Predator retires and a second surprise retirement at the end of the light heavyweight championship match. The wild world of MMA continues to turn.
Daniel Cormier g…

UFC 210 was another strange UFC event.

Controversey in the middleweight co-main event, a Predator retires and a second surprise retirement at the end of the light heavyweight championship match. The wild world of MMA continues to turn.

Daniel Cormier got Anthony Johnson to tap in just the second round of their main event meeting. Johnson’s odd game plan to wrestle with the former Olympian cost him. Cormier eventually put Johnson on his back and choked him out to retain.

Gegard Mousasi picked up a fifth straight win before heading to free agency thanks in part to an inept referee and the New York Athletic Commission. But, still, he got the TKO win over Chris Weidman. Also in action, strawweight prospect Cynthia Calvillo impressed with another dominant grappling showcase Saturday night in Buffalo, New York.

After these performances, the crystal ball must be put to use. Who’s next for the winners and losers?

Here is your look at what should be next for all the fighters from UFC 210.

Begin Slideshow

Anthony Johnson: ‘No, I am Not About to Play Football For The Rams’

Don’t expect to see Anthony Johnson on the gridiron. Last night (April 8), Johnson stunned mixed martial arts (MMA) fans when he announced his retirement from the sport. “Rumble” was submitted by Daniel Cormier inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. It was the second time Cormier choked Johnson in an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) […]

Don’t expect to see Anthony Johnson on the gridiron. Last night (April 8), Johnson stunned mixed martial arts (MMA) fans when he announced his retirement from the sport. “Rumble” was submitted by Daniel Cormier inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. It was the second time Cormier choked Johnson in an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) […]

Anthony Johnson’s Corner Upset With Decision To Wrestle Daniel Cormier

MMA fans were not the only ones who were shocked by Anthony Johnson’s gameplan in the main event of UFC 210 against Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight title, which was a rematch between the two fighters. Johnson’s corner was also shocked by his gameplan and pleaded with him when he elected to wrestle

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MMA fans were not the only ones who were shocked by Anthony Johnson’s gameplan in the main event of UFC 210 against Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight title, which was a rematch between the two fighters. Johnson’s corner was also shocked by his gameplan and pleaded with him when he elected to wrestle Cormier rather than engage in striking. They begged him to keep his distance and exchange strikes, but they got upset when he didn’t.

At one point in the fight, Johnson’s longtime striking coach Henri Hooft exclaimed, “This is stupid.” Between rounds, Johnson said nothing. Johnson ultimately was finished by Cormier when he locked in a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Courtesy of MMA Junkie, here are the excerpts from Johnson’s corner and apparently, the fighter’s retirement plans weren’t the only surprise of the night.

Round 1

Voice: Take your time. Nice. Take your time. Don’t take him down.

Hooft: Don’t wrestle him.

Voice: If you’re going to go, go single.

Hooft: You don’t have to wrestle him, AJ. Just relax.

Voice: Don’t wrestle him.

Hooft: Get out of there. Get out of there.

Grappling coach Neil Melanson: OK, stud. Now, let’s get your hands hot.

Voice: Why is he wrestling him?

Hooft: This is stupid.

Voice: Why is he wrestling him?

Hooft: (Expletive) it, man. Just get off the cage.

Voice: Get out of there.

Voice: Why isn’t he listening?

(Johnson and Cormier are broken up by referee John McCarthy, and Johnson lands kicks.)

Voice: He’s tired already, DC. He doesn’t need to do this.

Voice: Why isn’t he listening?

Hooft: I don’t know why he’s doing that. We have no (expletive) eyes.

Break between Round 1 and Round 2

Hooft: Can you tell me why you’re wrestling? Now, you’re not going to wrestle. You take your distance. Stay away, two steps away. Why are you so worried about everything? The kicks and the knees are really good, but no kicks. Where’s your hands?

Voice: You’re doing great. Don’t (expletive) wrestle him.

Hooft: If you stand your distance, it’s an easy game. Why make it difficult?

Round 2

Hooft: Movement. Athletic. Movement. That’s it. Take your distance.

(Johnson reverses against the cage and goes for another takedown)

Hooft: You need distance.

Hooft: I’m not saying nothing.

(Cormier has Johnson on the mat and is setting up a choke)

Hooft: It’s going the same as last time.

(Johnson submits to Cormier via rear-naked choke)

Hooft: Why, why the (expletive) does this happen every (expletive) time, man? Crazy.

Following the fight, Johnson shocked everyone by retiring from MMA, and before he made the announcement, he was looking for Hooft, but Hooft was nowhere to be found.

“I gave my commitment to another job,” Johnson said. “Something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while. It’s not MMA related or anything like that. It’s just time for me to move on to something else. I’m tired of getting punched by guys and rolling around on the ground with guys.”

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UFC 210 Reebok Fighter Payouts: Anthony Johnson & Daniel Cormier Top List

UFC 210 is in the books, and now it’s time for Reebok to pay the fighters their sponsorship money. UFC 210 took place on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The prelims aired on UFC Fight Pass with four bouts at 6 p.m. ET and on FOX Sports 1

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UFC 210 is in the books, and now it’s time for Reebok to pay the fighters their sponsorship money.

UFC 210 took place on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The prelims aired on UFC Fight Pass with four bouts at 6 p.m. ET and on FOX Sports 1 with four bouts at 8 p.m. ET. The main card aired on PPV at 10 p.m. ET with five bouts.

A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between the current champion Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson headlined the event. Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi in a middleweight bout co-headline this event. Rounding out the main card was Cynthia Calvillo vs. Pearl Gonzalez in a strawweight bout, Thiago Alves vs. Patrick Cote in a welterweight bout and Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira in a lightweight bout.

The full UFC payouts include:

Daniel Cormier: $40,000 def. Anthony Johnson: $30,000

Gegard Mousasi: $10,000 def. Chris Weidman: $10,000

Cynthia Calvillo: $2,500 def. Pearl Gonzalez: $2,500

Thiago Alves: $20,000 def. Patrick Cote: $20,000

Charles Oliveira: $15,000 def. Will Brooks: $2,500

Myles Jury: $5,000 def. Mike De La Torre: $5,000

Kamaru Usman: $2,500 def. Sean Strickland: $5,000

Shane Burgos: $2,500 def. Charles Rosa: $2,500

Patrick Cummins: $5,000 def. Jan Blachowicz: $5,000

Desmond Green: $2,500 def. Josh Emmett: $2,500

Gregor Gillespie: $2,500 def. Andrew Holbrook: $2,500

Katlyn Chookagian: $2,500 def. Irene Aldana: $2,500

Magomed Bibulatov: $2,500 def. Jenel Lausa: $2,500

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