When the Ultimate Fighting Championship asked Anthony Johnson if he wanted to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, he didn’t do the obvious thing.
Johnson didn’t question if Nogueira would show up come fight night. That may seem strange, given that Nogueira…
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship asked Anthony Johnson if he wanted to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, he didn’t do the obvious thing.
Johnson didn’t question if Nogueira would show up come fight night. That may seem strange, given that Nogueira has withdrawn from four of his last six fights due to injury. He has competed just twice in the past three years. You’d think that kind of abysmal track record would lead Johnson to be skeptical about whom he would ultimately be fighting at UFC on Fox 12.
But Johnson told Bleacher Report that the law of averages gave him confidence Nogueira would be healthy come fight night.
“I know everyone was saying he’s going to pull out. But my thinking was, this guy has been out of action for so long that he can’t get injured,” Johnson said from San Jose, where he’ll face Nogueira on Saturday night. “I never once thought he was going to get injured here.”
The bout is Johnson’s second since returning to the UFC earlier this year. He was bounced from the promotion in 2012 after repeatedly failing to make weight at 170 and 185 pounds; a loss to VitorBelfort at UFC 142 cemented his fate. Johnson settled at light heavyweight later that year, and he is undefeated in his last seven fights. He returned to the UFC at UFC 172 and immediately made a splash by handing Phil Davis, long considered a top heavyweight prospect, a one-sided decision loss.
The win surprised many onlookers but not Johnson.
“Phil is tough. But I wasn’t surprised at the result. I knew what I could do. I just had to go out there and do it. It wasn’t a surprise at all,” he said. “My game plan was to knock him out and to make sure he couldn’t get a takedown, and I did that. I could’ve had a knockout if he hadn’t blocked my head kick with his hand.”
After the fight, Johnson returned to Boca Raton, where he trains at the Blackzilians gym alongside some of the best and most ferocious talent in the world. Belfort, the man who violently sent him packing from the UFC, is a daily training partner. It is a constant reminder that the mixed martial arts world is a turbulent one; enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.
The win over Davis vaulted Johnson into the top five of the UFC’s light heavyweight division, and a win over Nogueira will put him within shouting distance of current champion Jon Jones. Johnson said the top-five ranking is “cool and wonderful,” but that it is ultimately meaningless. His goal is to be the champion, not the No. 1 contender.
“The number one contender is still number two,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t think about that stuff. I let the dice roll. I don’t think about how many fights I need to get to Jon Jones.”
Johnson is loose and relaxed—and rightly so. He is a heavy favorite over Nogueira, clocking in around minus-470 at some sportsbooks. Nogueira has not competed in 17 months, and Johnson is riding the best stretch of his career.
It is difficult to imagine a scenario where Nogueira defeats Johnson, and “Rumble” plans on sending his opponent back to the showers early.
“I plan on finishing Nogueira. I might ground-and-pound him or I might knock him out,” Johnson said. “But I’m not leaving it in the hands of the judges. That’s for sure.”
(Looks like someone should have pulled mummy guard.)
As a huge Pros vs. Joes fan back in the day, I’ve always had a soft spot for Charlie Brenneman*. This fact has made it all the more difficult to watch his last four UFC appearances, which have seen “The Spaniard” dominated by Erick Silva, TKO’d by Kyle Noke, rocked, then submitted by Beneil Dariush, and brutally knocked out by Danny Castillo (see above) in his last appearance at UFC 172. Even worse, all but one of those losses have occurred in the first round, with two of them happening in under two minutes. There was also that Anthony Johnson KO, but I think we should all just forget that ever happened. Brenneman probably has.
It is perhaps unfair to declare that Brenneman is one of those “raw” fighters who is talented enough to dominate the local scene while simply not being up to snuff at the UFC level (although his out-of-UFC record would support that argument). He has picked up 4 UFC wins in his career, after all, but his past handful of appearances have resulted in anything but triumph. They’ve been downright difficult to watch, if I’m being completely honest.
Regardless, it looks like Brenneman will be receiving another shot in the UFC. That’s according to Brenneman’s manager Mike Constantino, at least, who recently told MMAJunkie that, “Charlie’s going to get another chance. Charlie will be back and will get another chance. We’re looking at the fall for him.”
And once again, the strange, almost indecipherable dichotomy of the UFC’s hiring/firing policies is revealed…
(Looks like someone should have pulled mummy guard.)
As a huge Pros vs. Joes fan back in the day, I’ve always had a soft spot for Charlie Brenneman*. This fact has made it all the more difficult to watch his last four UFC appearances, which have seen ”The Spaniard” dominated by Erick Silva, TKO’d by Kyle Noke, rocked, then submitted by Beneil Dariush, and brutally knocked out by Danny Castillo (see above) in his last appearance at UFC 172. Even worse, all but one of those losses have occurred in the first round, with two of them happening in under two minutes. There was also that Anthony Johnson KO, but I think we should all just forget that ever happened. Brenneman probably has.
It is perhaps unfair to declare that Brenneman is one of those “raw” fighters who is talented enough to dominate the local scene while simply not being up to snuff at the UFC level (although his out-of-UFC record would support that argument). He has picked up 4 UFC wins in his career, after all, but his past handful of appearances have resulted in anything but triumph. They’ve been downright difficult to watch, if I’m being completely honest.
Regardless, it looks like Brenneman will be receiving another shot in the UFC. That’s according to Brenneman’s manager Mike Constantino, at least, who recently told MMAJunkie that, “Charlie’s going to get another chance. Charlie will be back and will get another chance. We’re looking at the fall for him.”
And once again, the strange, almost indecipherable dichotomy of the UFC’s hiring/firing policies is revealed. One week, we’re being told that the UFC’s roster is too bloated to support the likes of say, Ben Askren, and the next, we’re being told that guys like Brenneman and Bobby Voelker will fight another day despite four fight skids in their respective weight classes. Even Paulo Thiago was recently granted a four fight extension, having dropping six out of his past eight UFC contests. Meanwhile, guys like Jake Shields, Yushin Okami, and Jon Fitch are being written off as has-beens on their way out the door.
Today’s lesson in UFC hypocrisy: ‘Tis worse to be a has-been than a never-was.
*What? You didn’t forget that he was the season one winner of that long-forgotten show, did you? Well he was, and that honor is tantamount to winning a season of TUF nowadays, IMHO.
The matchup seems tailor-made to give “Rumble” another high-profile win before he’s launched into title contention. Or, to put it another way: This looks like a damn squash match. Sure, anything can happen in an MMA fight, but when you put one of the UFC’s most powerful 205-pound contenders up against a guy whose body has been steadily disintegrating before our eyes, it’s pretty obvious what the promotion would like to see happen here.
No other fights have been booked for UFC on FOX 12, which will take place at San Jose’s SAP Center.
The matchup seems tailor-made to give “Rumble” another high-profile win before he’s launched into title contention. Or, to put it another way: This looks like a damn squash match. Sure, anything can happen in an MMA fight, but when you put one of the UFC’s most powerful 205-pound contenders up against a guy whose body has been steadily disintegrating before our eyes, it’s pretty obvious what the promotion would like to see happen here.
No other fights have been booked for UFC on FOX 12, which will take place at San Jose’s SAP Center.
Jones also posted this photo of a depressed-looking Chuck Liddell, with the caption “Talking all that trash before the fight.. you mad bro?” The message is loud and clear — if Jones doesn’t have the chance to beat you in an actual fight, he will still kick you in the face on social media. Meanwhile, Anthony Johnson continues to be a super-nice guy, but who’s interested in that?
Jones also posted this photo of a depressed-looking Chuck Liddell, with the caption “Talking all that trash before the fight.. you mad bro?” The message is loud and clear — if Jones doesn’t have the chance to beat you in an actual fight, he will still kick you in the face on social media. Meanwhile, Anthony Johnson continues to be a super-nice guy, but who’s interested in that?
But today, we look forward. While Jon Jones‘ victory over Glover Teixeira can only mean that a highly-anticipated rematch with Alexander Gustafsson is surely on the horizon (a rare instance of the MMA Gods actually granting us a wish with no strings attached *fingers crossed*), there are still several potential matchups worth discussing, so let’s see what the future holds for UFC 172’s biggest winners and losers…
Anthony Johnson: What can you say about “Rumble” that hasn’t already been said? He looked damn-near perfect against Phil Davis, shutting down the four-time NCAA Division I All-American’s takedown attempts with ease and making him look like even more of an amateur on the feet. After two rounds had passed, we were all left wondering how Davis was ever considered the favorite heading into this matchup, and when/if Johnson’s gas tank would expire. It never did, and in his first fight back in the UFC since 2012, Johnson firmly established himself as a top contender at 205 lbs.
Personally, I think “Rumble” should use this opportunity to finally call out GSP, but a match against the Ryan Bader-Rafael Cavalcante winner probably makes more sense from a logistical standpoint. Bader has become a weigh-station for future contenders over the years (and I say that with all due respect), so should he get past “Feijao” at UFC 174, he would make for a fine addition to Johnson’s highlight reel (again, with all due respect). And if Cavalcante emerges with the W, you’ve got yourself a slugfest for the ages right there.
But today, we look forward. While Jon Jones‘ victory over Glover Teixeira can only mean that a highly-anticipated rematch with Alexander Gustafsson is surely on the horizon (a rare instance of the MMA Gods actually granting us a wish with no strings attached *fingers crossed*), there are still several potential matchups worth discussing, so let’s see what the future holds for UFC 172′s biggest winners and losers…
Anthony Johnson: What can you say about “Rumble” that hasn’t already been said? He looked damn-near perfect against Phil Davis, shutting down the four-time NCAA Division I All-American’s takedown attempts with ease and making him look like even more of an amateur on the feet. After two rounds had passed, we were all left wondering how Davis was ever considered the favorite heading into this matchup, and when/if Johnson’s gas tank would expire. It never did, and in his first fight back in the UFC since 2012, Johnson firmly established himself as a top contender at 205 lbs.
Personally, I think “Rumble” should use this opportunity to finally call out GSP, but a match against the Ryan Bader-Rafael Cavalcante winner probably makes more sense from a logistical standpoint. Bader has become a weigh-station for future contenders over the years (and I say that with all due respect), so should he get past “Feijao” at UFC 174, he would make for a fine addition to Johnson’s highlight reel (again, with all due respect). And if Cavalcante emerges with the W, you’ve got yourself a slugfest for the ages right there.
Phil Davis: If there was one basic lesson that Davis should have taken away from his one-sided loss to Rashad Evans back at UFC on FOX 2, it’s that the first M in MMA stands for “mixed.” Some two years later, Davis’ striking remains underwhelming at best — a means to the end that is his wrestling — and simply won’t cut it against the well-rounded elites of the division moving forward. From the moment Johnson cut him open in the first round, Davis looked tentative, scared even, and pulled nearly every punch he threw out of the fear of a “Rumble” counterstrike. A harsh critique, maybe, but for a guy who completely overlooked Johnson and said he would “break Jon Jones like a cookie” when/if they ever met, Davis looked straight-up neutered last Saturday.
So where should he go from here? To Thailand for six-months minimum of Muay Thai training, for starters, and then a fight with Glover Teixeira. Davis may talk a good game, but a controversial win over Lyoto Machida and no one else has not exactly sold him as a top contender in our eyes. And what better way to prove that he can actually hang with the big dogs than by facing the guy who just took Jon Jones’ best shots for five rounds?
It’s sink or swim time for Davis as an MMA fighter, and if he wants to actually prove that he has more in his repertoire than some solid takedowns and a the occasional submission, a win over a power-puncher with exceptional takedown defense (a.k.a “an Anthony Johnson-type”) is the only way he can do so.
I know, how about Yoel Romero? “The Soldier of God” just dominated Brad Tavares at UFC on FOX 11, is 4-0 in the UFC, and couples a ridiculous grappling pedigree with some scary punching power. Any takers?
Jim Miller: Aside from being an endlessly entertaining fighter who’s damn near impossible to finish, Jim Miller is the kind of perennial top contender who absolutely clowns anyone ranked below him while lacking the ability to truly break into the upper-echelon of the division. In his past two fights, however, Miller has proven more than ever before that he is an aggressive opportunist who will look for the quick finish if he feels that he has his opponent hurt. Sound familiar?
There’s a reason Miller called out Donald Cerrone (and most of the lightweight division, but whatevs) in his post-fight interview, and it’s not just because they’re remarkably similar fighters. The fight is guaranteed to net either man at least one “Performance of the Night” bonus, and from a fan’s perspective, it would be an absolute thrill to watch.
Max Hollaway: After suffering a couple of tough defeats to Conor McGregor and Dennis Bermudez back in 2013, “Blessed” has bounced back with a pair of impressive, technical wins over Will Chope and Andre Fili in 2014. I was shocked to see Hollaway as the underdog heading into his fight with Fili last weekend, but moving forward, a fight with Cole Miller, who’s also riding a two-fight streak, sounds good to me. Simple.
Joseph Benavidez: In a division as small as flyweight, it pains me to say that Joseph Benavidez could find himself in Yushin Okami/Jon Fitch territory before too long. That is not to say that Benavidez is a quote unquote boring fighter (because he’s anything but), but with two losses to champion Demetrious Johnson including a quick KO defeat in their last meeting, there’s nowhere to really place Benavidez at 125 lbs. That he costs 40ish thousand to show (which is a lot in the UFC’s eyes) and currently serves the purpose of crushing potential contenders makes him a bit of a liability, to be honest, and if the UFC plans to continue cutting the Jake Shields’ of each division simply because they’ll never be at championship level again, Benavidez better pray for an interim-title opportunity to be thrown his way in the near future.
In the meantime, I dunno, a fight with John Lineker, maybe? “Hands of Ham Stone” is coming off a decision loss to current title challenger Ali Bagautinov that, go figure, he struggled to make weight for. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to pair up a guy coming off a win with another coming off a loss, but them are slim pickens in the flyweight division.
Do any of these matchups tickle your fancy, Potato Nation? Let us know in the comments section.
UFC 172 wasn’t terribly interesting on paper. “Who cares about Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira and a bunch of other mismatches?” we all asked. And we were right to. MMA had been in a slump. Good cards were sparse–islands in a sea terrible TUF finales, awful Fight Pass exclusives, and PPVs not worth the $60 price tag.
Last night changed all that (well, it did if you ignore UFC 173)
I know what you’re thinking. “Tone down the hyperbole a bit, Matt…and by a bit we mean several orders of magnitude.” Let me explain.
UFC 172 wasn’t terribly interesting on paper. “Who cares about Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira and a bunch of other mismatches?” we all asked. And we were right to. MMA had been in a slump. Good cards were sparse—islands in a sea terrible TUF finales, awful Fight Pass exclusives, and PPVs not worth the $60 price tag.
Last night changed all that (well, it did if you ignore UFC 173)
I know what you’re thinking. “Tone down the hyperbole a bit, Matt…and by a bit we mean several orders of magnitude.” Let me explain.
This clever taunt can be turned into a meaningful feud with the right promotion. Why not match up Correia with Shayna Baszler and market it as a grudge match? The women’s bantamweight division is shallow and pallid. There’s not much talent, and there’s even less buzz around anyone not named Ronda Rousey. Even though a potential Four Horsewoman vs. Bethe Correia feud still technically involves Rousey in some capacity, it’ll at least attempt to create some kind of narrative in the weight class other than “Ronda Rousey vs. Opponent. Buy it.”
Lightweight, too, had its fire rekindled. Jim Miller choked Yancy Medeiros unconscious in a wondrous display of grappling technique (and violence). But better than that was his post-fight call out of practically the entire lightweight division—Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and more. Jim Miller’s aggressiveness is welcome in a division lacking its champion as well as perennial shit-starter Nate Diaz. Miller-Nurmagomedov or Miller-Cerrone are both great matches—ones that make MMA what it should be: Fights between the most talented fighters.
An honorable mention goes to Luke Rockhold‘s unreal domination of Tim Boetsch. While this was a sight to behold; it didn’t necessarily shake the division up. Middleweight was intriguing enough.
The most interesting development of all, however, was Anthony “Rumble” Johnson‘s resurgence. Johnson made Phil Davis (who’s built like a comic book superhero) not only look like a neophyte wrestler, but a neophyte wrestler who was about three weight classes lighter. In a division where Jon Jones rules over everyone with an iron elbow, a new, viable contender is not only welcomed but necessary. Before Johnson’s fight, the only meaningful light heavyweight fight on the horizon was Jon Jones-Alexander Gustafsson II. Now we have Anthony Johnson carving a bloody path through the light heavyweight top-10 to look forwards to.
MMA had been in a rut the last few months. Some recent fight cards have made fans never want to watch MMA again. This card wasn’t one of them. UFC 172 helped MMA not suck. There’s stuff to look forward to now. Let’s hope the trend continues.
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship asked Anthony Johnson if he wanted to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, he didn’t do the obvious thing.
