Anthony Johnson ended up with the worse of two evils.After failing to make weight for the third time in his UFC career, and coming in 11 pounds over the limit, Johnson’s bout against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 presented a lose-lose situation.A win over B…
Anthony Johnson ended up with the worse of two evils.
After failing to make weight for the third time in his UFC career, and coming in 11 pounds over the limit, Johnson’s bout against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 presented a lose-lose situation.
A win over Belfort would have been practically meaningless in the eyes of fans and pundits, considering the perceived advantage Johnson had by skipping his weight cut. Even if Johnson had won, there would have still been fans calling for his release from the UFC.
With a loss to Belfort, the somewhat obvious move was made by the UFC. In an interview with Fuel TV’s Jon Anik, UFC president Dana White explained that Johnson would likely be cut from the UFC roster.
His spot in MMA‘s premier organization now gone, Johnson will have to begin looking for a new home.
Zuffa-owned Strikeforce has become home to other fighters who have angered the UFC brass, but the wounds from Johnson’s are likely too fresh for White to allow “Rumble” to continue fighting under the Zuffa banner.
The most intriguing option would obviously be Bellator, where Johnson could contend for a fight with Hector Lombard. However, Bellator has been hesitant to sign every UFC castoff that comes calling.
There are plenty of other organization’s out there that would gladly swipe up Johnson’s drawing power, so it may come down to the highest bidder.
Wherever Johnson ends up, it’s clear he will have a lot of proving to do before he will ever be given another shot inside the Octagon.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.
Filed under: UFCThe look on Vitor Belfort’s face in Dana White’s pre-fight video blog said it all. When the UFC president sat him down before the UFC 142 weigh-ins and explained that Anthony Johnson wouldn’t make weight — that, in fact, he wouldn’t ev…
The look on Vitor Belfort‘s face in Dana White’s pre-fight video blog said it all. When the UFC president sat him down before the UFC 142 weigh-ins and explained that Anthony Johnson wouldn’t make weight — that, in fact, he wouldn’t even come close to making weight — you could see that last ounce of energy drain from the Brazilian’s face.
Here he was chewing on ice through a towel, feeling miserable but on target to make weight, while Johnson was full of fluids and closer to 200 pounds than 185. Not only was it unfair, it was unprofessional. It was also unwise, at least for Johnson’s career prospects, and it was completely avoidable.
As we’ve learned over the years, one of the quickest ways to enrage your boss in the UFC is to miss weight. If you miss it by a pound or two it’s bad enough. If you miss it by a bowling ball, as Johnson did after being forced to rehydrate by the UFC doctors — and if it’s not your first offense — then you’re really in trouble. As in, the kind of trouble that results in unemployment.
White first said the UFC was “probably going to cut” Johnson after his sorry showing on the scales and in the cage this weekend, and according to an MMA Junkie report, the cut is already a reality. Normally, a submission loss to Belfort and a 2-2 record in your last four UFC fights wouldn’t be cause for termination. But when you factor in Johnson’s recent track record you start to understand why the UFC might have come to the conclusion that he isn’t worth the headache.
This is a guy who went up a weight class because he kept missing weight, and then missed weight for his first fight in his new division. This is a guy who put his own health in danger to the point where UFC doctors stepped in. Should the bout have even taken place? Would it have been allowed to, had an actual athletic commission been overseeing things? Should fans have asked for their money back after a depleted, diminished Johnson crumbled in the cage? All valid questions that Johnson invited, simply because he couldn’t do what every other fighter on the card had done.
Maybe the worst part is his own flippant attitude about the whole thing, as if he was doing us a favor by even trying to make the contracted weight.
“I’m already laughing at what ppl are saying,” Johnson wrote on Facebook after coming in at 197 pounds for a 185-pound bout. “Yeah it was for medical reason and I did what the UFC Dr Told me to do. Believe it or don’t I give a f**k cuz the ppl close to me were freaking out but I’m still alive and something like this has never happen before. Say what you want I’m still gonna do my thang. You try not having feeling in your legs and can’t move then and see how you look at life after that.”
Of course, when Johnson wrote that “something like this has never happen [sic] before,” I assume he meant ‘at this weight class,’ or maybe just ‘on this continent.’ Failing to make weight? Yeah, that’s happened to him before. A few times, in fact. That’s why everyone around him thought it was such a good idea for him to move up to middleweight. He’d been killing himself trying to make the welterweight limit, and he wasn’t even succeeding at it reliably enough for it to seem worth it.
As for the whole “medical reasons” excuse, let’s put that in perspective. When your body shuts down in the middle of a rough weight cut, sure, that’s a medical problem. Then again, it’s also a self-induced medical problem. His explanation is appropriately vague so as to keep us from knowing all the details, but it’s not like a congenital heart defect kept Johnson from making the weight. Johnson had medical problems the same way a compulsive gambler has financial problems.
This wasn’t a lightning bolt of bad luck that found its way across the universe and zapped Johnson right in the teeth. This was a consequence of his own choices and his own actions, and it’s a mistake he’s made enough times to know better by now. The fact that he would attempt to write it off as a medical issue and blame the doctors just tells us how he got in this situation in the first place: by failing to take responsibility for his own actions.
Of all the red flags that Johnson waved this weekend, that might be the most alarming one. If he at least showed a little remorse, a little humility and contrition, maybe it would be different. Instead he acted as if the whole world was insane for being angry at him, as if he had no control over what had happened. If that wasn’t unprofessional enough to doom him, then he went out and fought like a man who had left his best stuff in the sauna, just to make White’s decision easier.
But Johnson knew for weeks that he’d need to weigh 186 pounds on Friday afternoon. He simply failed to do what was necessary to get there. He failed to conduct himself like a professional, either before the weigh-in or after.
And if a guy has shown that he isn’t capable of behaving like a professional, maybe he shouldn’t be one, at least at this level. Maybe he should leave this to the people who care enough to do what they say they’ll do, and take responsibility for their mistakes when they come up short. Maybe the choice isn’t his to make anymore for a very good reason, and maybe it’s about time.
Come join me, Chris Colemon, inside for the answers to these questions and more.
I thought the FOX era was supposed to signal the end of the Gladiator intro, but I guess that only counts for FOX broadcasts. That’s a shame.
And we aren’t wasting much time. It’s been a strong showing for Brazil thus far. Let’s see if Etim can turn the tides.
Edson Barboza, Jr. vs. Terry Etim
I don’t speak Portuguese, but I had an easier time understanding Barboza’s prefight interview than I did Etim’s. Bruce Buffer, man of the world, caters to the home crowd in his introduction.
R1: If you forget who is who, the Brazilian is the one with the tan. Big Dan is in control of things. Both men swing awahy and Etim gets the early takedown, but they quickly pop back up. Barboza blocks a head kick. Etim fakes a punch and shoots for another takedown, but Barboza sweeps and gets back up. They’re feeling each other out, and Barboza misses with a wild punch before finding his mark with a pair of leg kicks. Barboza’s thrown quite a few shots to the break basket. Barboza sees the takedown coming and stuffs the Brit. The crowd is chanting something–it undoubtedly involves Etim meeting his maker. Barboza charges in and connects with a combination. Woo, powerful spinning back kick from Barboza to shut out the round.
R2: Etim comes out much more active, but he’s still eating leg kicks. Etim lands a leg kick and follows up with another to the head but it’s blocked. Etim gets stuffed on a takedown and eats a knee to the gut. If he can’t land these takedowns, he needs to get more aggressive in the standup, and he’s making the effort. Barboza’s been landing heavy kicks to Etim’s lead leg throughout the bout, and he’s sticking with the formula. Etim with a head kick and spinning back kick of his own. Etim with a takedown from across the cage. He lands it but it’s as short lived as the others. Barboza digs in with a body shot and follows it up top. Strong switch kick to the body by the Brazilian to close out the round.
R3: Really wish they would have secured local talent for the ring card girls. Am I alone in that? They’re trading early in round three. Etim with a failed flying knee, or “jumping knee” as Goldy called it earlier. Both men are sticking to their plan: Barboza lands a leg kick and Etim fails a takedown. Annnnd Barboza whips around with a magnificent spinning wheel kick! Tiiiiimbeeer! He catches Etim square in the face and this is a wrap!
Edson Barboza def. Terry Etim by Knock Out (2:02 R3)
Rogan calls this the first ever spinning heel kick knock out in UFC history. He’d probably know. A nice finish to kick off the PPV card, and the Brazilians are rolling tonight.
Heading into UFC 142, many were looking forward to the middleweight debut of dynamic striker and standout wrestler Anthony Johnson (11-3), who will be facing former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort (20-9) in the co-main event.At the we…
Heading into UFC 142, many were looking forward to the middleweight debut of dynamic striker and standout wrestler Anthony Johnson (11-3), who will be facing former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort (20-9) in the co-main event.
At the weigh-ins, Johnson came in 11 pounds over the middleweight limit of 186. Belfort accepted the fight at a catchweight of 197 pounds, and Johnson was forced to give 20 percent of his purse to the Brazilian. On top of that, Johnson had to weigh in earlier today and not be over 205. He weighed in at 204, making the fight official.
There is a lot of pressure on Belfort fighting in front of his home-country at the HSBC Arena in Brazil. For Johnson, there was little to no pressure for him to perform until the weigh in. Now, he has the added pressure of missing weight, which didn’t go over well with UFC president Dana White, who has come out afterwards and said Johnson’s UFC career is on the line, win or lose.
Whatever gameplan Johnson had beforehand may have been changed due to White’s comments, and if the pre-fight press-conference was of any indication, he had full intentions of taking his opponent down and working from in guard for however long it takes or until the final bell rings. That is what he needs to do to win here, but it can’t secure him a position at a later date in the UFC if it’s not a fan-friendly fight.
Many fans are expecting both to put on a stand-up battle, and that might be what they get if Johnson makes a last-minute decision to let it all go and hope he does enough to keep his job, even if it comes at the expense of losing a fight he can win in less exciting fashion.
If Johnson decides to stand and trade with his opponent, it could work against him, especially early on when Belfort is at his best. The 27-year-old has shown he can be flashy with his kicks and strikes, but he hasn’t tested them against any other quality strikers like Belfort. If he does test it out here, expect it to come later in the fight when Belfort won’t be as dangerous.
Most, if not all, danger can be avoided if Johnson shoots early and tries to wear down Belfort on the ground. “The Phenom” can be dangerous with his submissions, but there isn’t too much for Johnson to worry about outside of an occasional armbar attempt.
A decision victory could be in the works if Johnson does this, but to call it a “victory” when his job in the UFC may be over won’t leave him too happy.
One of the most popular Brazilian fighters in the UFC put on a show back home on Saturday night.
Vitor Belfort, who has been with the UFC longer than any active fighter and is a star in his homeland, fought in Brazil for the first time since 1998 and pulled off a first-round submission victory over Anthony Johnson at UFC 142.
In the early going Johnson appeared to have Belfort in trouble, but Belfort maintained his composure, got the fight to the ground and steadily transitioned into a dominant position, taking Johnson’s back on the ground. Belfort sunk in a rear-naked choke and Johnson tapped out with just 11 seconds left in the first round.
“A loss is a loss. My legs just got really tired,” Johnson said after the fight. “I didn’t get beat up in there and he really didn’t hurt me with what he hit me with. I just got tired. I’ve got to figure this thing out.”
The fight was marked by controversy beforehand, as Johnson failed to make weight, and there may be more controversy following the fight because referee Dan Miragliotta stood the fighters up twice in the first round for questionable reasons.
“He kept trying to take me down and I kept fighting it. ‘Make him quit.’ That was my goal and I did just that,” Belfort said of Johnson. “I had the whole country (of Brazil) behind me and I could feel it in there tonight. Next to God and my family, my fans are one of the most important things to me. Rio, America, all over….I love my fans.”
But there’s no controversy about this: Belfort put on a tremendous performance. Up next for Belfort is a stint coaching on the upcoming Brazilian season of The Ultimate Fighter, where his opposing coach will be Wanderlei Silva. Belfort will then fight Silva at the end of the season.
If Belfort looks as good against Silva as he did against Johnson, that’s going to be a rough fight for Silva. Belfort is looking good.
This is the UFC 142 live blog for Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson, a middleweight bout on tonight’s UFC pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Belfort (20-9) failed to capture the UFC middleweight title in February 2011, but bounced back with a first-round TKO over Yoshihiro Akiyama in August. Johnson (10-3) is a knockout artist coming off a head kick finish against Charlie Brenneman at last August’s UFC on Versus.
Round 1: Johnson opens with a front kick. Johnson catches a high kick and tosses Belfort to the floor. Johnson works from inside Belfort’s guard. Belfort turns his hips for an armbar and Johnson quickly stands up. Johnson dives back in with a right punch and goes back to work inside Belfort’s close guard. Miragliotta stands them up. Johnson shoots and switches to a single-leg with Belfort defending against the fence. Johnson throws a looping punch and Belfort avoids it to stun Johnson with punches of his own. Belfort tries for a choke but ends up sliding into guard. Johnson attempts to work from inside Belfort’s guard. The referee stands them up again with 1:45 remaining. While Johnson wasn’t exactly very active inside Belfort’s guard, the two standups have been rather quick. Kinda strange if you ask me. Johnson drops down for the takedown but Belfort makes him pay for it. Belfort punishes Johnson with punches and takes his back. Belfort swoops his own right arm under Johnson’s neck and finishes the rear-naked choke. Johnson taps.
Official Result: Belfort wins via submission – Round 1, 4:49
This is the UFC 142 live blog for Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson, a middleweight bout on tonight’s UFC pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Belfort (20-9) failed to capture the UFC middleweight title in February 2011, but bounced back with a first-round TKO over Yoshihiro Akiyama in August. Johnson (10-3) is a knockout artist coming off a head kick finish against Charlie Brenneman at last August’s UFC on Versus.
Round 1: Johnson opens with a front kick. Johnson catches a high kick and tosses Belfort to the floor. Johnson works from inside Belfort’s guard. Belfort turns his hips for an armbar and Johnson quickly stands up. Johnson dives back in with a right punch and goes back to work inside Belfort’s close guard. Miragliotta stands them up. Johnson shoots and switches to a single-leg with Belfort defending against the fence. Johnson throws a looping punch and Belfort avoids it to stun Johnson with punches of his own. Belfort tries for a choke but ends up sliding into guard. Johnson attempts to work from inside Belfort’s guard. The referee stands them up again with 1:45 remaining. While Johnson wasn’t exactly very active inside Belfort’s guard, the two standups have been rather quick. Kinda strange if you ask me. Johnson drops down for the takedown but Belfort makes him pay for it. Belfort punishes Johnson with punches and takes his back. Belfort swoops his own right arm under Johnson’s neck and finishes the rear-naked choke. Johnson taps.
Official Result: Belfort wins via submission – Round 1, 4:49
Anthony Johnson ended up with the worse of two evils.
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One of the most popular Brazilian fighters in the 
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