Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson Planning UFC Return In 2020 At Heavyweight

It looks like competitive grappling couldn’t quite satisfy Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s competitive itch. According to a report from ESPN, Johnson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has confirmed that Johnson is planning a return to the UFC in 2020. The 35-year-old is a two-time light heavyweight title challenger. Johnson is in the process of filing the necessary paperwork […]

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It looks like competitive grappling couldn’t quite satisfy Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s competitive itch.

According to a report from ESPN, Johnson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has confirmed that Johnson is planning a return to the UFC in 2020. The 35-year-old is a two-time light heavyweight title challenger. Johnson is in the process of filing the necessary paperwork to rejoin the UFC and its mandatory drug testing program.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) requires athletes coming out of retirement to be tested for six months prior to any competition. With that being said, the “Rumble” camp is eying a March return at heavyweight. He has his sights set on ranked opponents such as Alistair Overeem or Junior dos Santos. Johnson is not granting interviews currently, but will likely speak on his return in the coming weeks.

Johnson is recognized as one of the most fierce punchers in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. He has provided the UFC with some devastating knockouts for its highlight reel over the course of his career. “Rumble” has downed the likes of Phil Davis, Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Glover Teixeira, and Ryan Bader. His only losses at 205 pounds came against Daniel Cormier – both for the light heavyweight title.

He abruptly retired after being submitted by Cormier in the second round of their UFC 210 main event back in 2017. Now, after a couple of years on the sideline, Johnson will prepare to step back inside the Octagon.

Who would you like “Rumble” to fight upon his return to heavyweight?

The post Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson Planning UFC Return In 2020 At Heavyweight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson Planning UFC Return In 2020 At Heavyweight

It looks like competitive grappling couldn’t quite satisfy Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s competitive itch. According to a report from ESPN, Johnson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has confirmed that Johnson is planning a return to the UFC in 2020. The 35-year-old is a two-time light heavyweight title challenger. Johnson is in the process of filing the necessary paperwork […]

The post Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson Planning UFC Return In 2020 At Heavyweight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

It looks like competitive grappling couldn’t quite satisfy Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s competitive itch.

According to a report from ESPN, Johnson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has confirmed that Johnson is planning a return to the UFC in 2020. The 35-year-old is a two-time light heavyweight title challenger. Johnson is in the process of filing the necessary paperwork to rejoin the UFC and its mandatory drug testing program.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) requires athletes coming out of retirement to be tested for six months prior to any competition. With that being said, the “Rumble” camp is eying a March return at heavyweight. He has his sights set on ranked opponents such as Alistair Overeem or Junior dos Santos. Johnson is not granting interviews currently, but will likely speak on his return in the coming weeks.

Johnson is recognized as one of the most fierce punchers in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. He has provided the UFC with some devastating knockouts for its highlight reel over the course of his career. “Rumble” has downed the likes of Phil Davis, Alexander Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Glover Teixeira, and Ryan Bader. His only losses at 205 pounds came against Daniel Cormier – both for the light heavyweight title.

He abruptly retired after being submitted by Cormier in the second round of their UFC 210 main event back in 2017. Now, after a couple of years on the sideline, Johnson will prepare to step back inside the Octagon.

Who would you like “Rumble” to fight upon his return to heavyweight?

The post Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson Planning UFC Return In 2020 At Heavyweight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Watch: Anthony Johnson Gets Submitted In 47 Seconds At SUG 9

Things didn’t go Anthony Johnson’s way yesterday (Sun. July 7, 2019) at Submission Underground 9. Johnson took part in a heavyweight grappling match against Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Craig Jones to headline Submission Underground 9. Things ended pretty fast, as Jones immediately got ahold of Johnson’s leg, forcing “Rumble” to tap out via heel hook. The […]

The post Watch: Anthony Johnson Gets Submitted In 47 Seconds At SUG 9 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Things didn’t go Anthony Johnson’s way yesterday (Sun. July 7, 2019) at Submission Underground 9.

Johnson took part in a heavyweight grappling match against Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Craig Jones to headline Submission Underground 9. Things ended pretty fast, as Jones immediately got ahold of Johnson’s leg, forcing “Rumble” to tap out via heel hook. The official time of the finish came in at 47 seconds.

Check it out here:

Johnson took to his Facebook page shortly after the event and issued a message to fans, saying it was some of the most fun he has had in a long time:

“I just had the most fun I’ve had in a long time time. No pressure, was focused. So much fun preparing. Met some cool people and competed against one of the best and was out of my comfort zone. I lost but I still won in my opinion cause I had a blast.”

In his post-match interview, Johnson was asked by Chael Sonnen about possibly returning to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in the UFC. Johnson noted, if the price is right, he’s down to return to fighting action.

What did you think about Johnson getting submitted in just 47 seconds by Jones?

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Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson returned to competition last night (Sun. July 7, 2019). Johnson took on Craig Jones in a grappling bout in the headliner of the Submission Underground 9 event. Things didn’t go Johnson’s way, as he was submitted by Jones in 47 seconds via heel hook in Portland, Oregon. After the bout, Johnson was […]

The post Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson returned to competition last night (Sun. July 7, 2019). Johnson took on Craig Jones in a grappling bout in the headliner of the Submission Underground 9 event.

Things didn’t go Johnson’s way, as he was submitted by Jones in 47 seconds via heel hook in Portland, Oregon. After the bout, Johnson was interviewed by ex-UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen. “The Bad Guy” asked Johnson if he still has the drive to compete at a high level. Here’s what he had to say (via MMA Junkie):

“This was just fun for me, man,” Johnson said. “I like competition – win, lose or draw. I still go out there and try my best. Sorry for not being able to perform, knocking somebody out, you know. Grappling, of course, isn’t my forte, but I’m not afraid to do it.

“Just in a fight I’m an entertainer – people want to see me knocking people out. On the ground, I get bored, but I would never get bored against a competitor like Craig Jones.”

Sonnen then asked the question on all mixed martial arts (MMA) fans’ minds – is Johnson contemplating a return to the UFC’s Octagon? “Rumble’s” answer was simple. “If the price is right”:

“If the price is right, the price is right,” Johnson said.

Johnson hasn’t competed in MMA since April of 2017 when he lost his second opportunity at 205-pound gold. He once again was bested by Daniel Cormier when he was submitted via rear-naked choke, the same method “DC” used to defeat the former welterweight competitor back in 2015 as well.

Aside from Cormier, no man was ever able to defeat Johnson at light heavyweight. He also won his sole heavyweight bout of his career against Andrei Arlovski back in 2013 for World Series Of Fighting (WSOF). Johnson is one of the scariest knockout artists of all time.

With all of the extra mass he has packed on since retiring in 2017, fans are clamoring for a “Rumble” return at heavyweight. Perhaps Johnson’s return is inevitable at this point given the demand from the MMA community.

Do you think the UFC will throw the checkbook at Johnson for a UFC return? Who would you like to see him fight?

The post Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson returned to competition last night (Sun. July 7, 2019). Johnson took on Craig Jones in a grappling bout in the headliner of the Submission Underground 9 event. Things didn’t go Johnson’s way, as he was submitted by Jones in 47 seconds via heel hook in Portland, Oregon. After the bout, Johnson was […]

The post Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson returned to competition last night (Sun. July 7, 2019). Johnson took on Craig Jones in a grappling bout in the headliner of the Submission Underground 9 event.

Things didn’t go Johnson’s way, as he was submitted by Jones in 47 seconds via heel hook in Portland, Oregon. After the bout, Johnson was interviewed by ex-UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen. “The Bad Guy” asked Johnson if he still has the drive to compete at a high level. Here’s what he had to say (via MMA Junkie):

“This was just fun for me, man,” Johnson said. “I like competition – win, lose or draw. I still go out there and try my best. Sorry for not being able to perform, knocking somebody out, you know. Grappling, of course, isn’t my forte, but I’m not afraid to do it.

“Just in a fight I’m an entertainer – people want to see me knocking people out. On the ground, I get bored, but I would never get bored against a competitor like Craig Jones.”

Sonnen then asked the question on all mixed martial arts (MMA) fans’ minds – is Johnson contemplating a return to the UFC’s Octagon? “Rumble’s” answer was simple. “If the price is right”:

“If the price is right, the price is right,” Johnson said.

Johnson hasn’t competed in MMA since April of 2017 when he lost his second opportunity at 205-pound gold. He once again was bested by Daniel Cormier when he was submitted via rear-naked choke, the same method “DC” used to defeat the former welterweight competitor back in 2015 as well.

Aside from Cormier, no man was ever able to defeat Johnson at light heavyweight. He also won his sole heavyweight bout of his career against Andrei Arlovski back in 2013 for World Series Of Fighting (WSOF). Johnson is one of the scariest knockout artists of all time.

With all of the extra mass he has packed on since retiring in 2017, fans are clamoring for a “Rumble” return at heavyweight. Perhaps Johnson’s return is inevitable at this point given the demand from the MMA community.

Do you think the UFC will throw the checkbook at Johnson for a UFC return? Who would you like to see him fight?

The post Anthony Johnson Drops Grappling Match To Craig Jones, Teases UFC Return appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony Johnson Set To Grapple Against Craig Jones At Submission Underground 9

Anthony Johnson is set to return. However, that return won’t take place inside mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Instead, “Rumble” will grapple against Craig Jones at Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground 9 event. The action airs on UFC Fight Pass from the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon on July 7. Sonnen made the news official on […]

The post Anthony Johnson Set To Grapple Against Craig Jones At Submission Underground 9 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Anthony Johnson is set to return.

However, that return won’t take place inside mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Instead, “Rumble” will grapple against Craig Jones at Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground 9 event. The action airs on UFC Fight Pass from the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon on July 7.

Sonnen made the news official on his Twitter page earlier today (Fri. May 31, 2019):

Johnson hasn’t competed inside the Octagon since April of 2017. He suffered a submission loss to Daniel Cormier in their light heavyweight championship bout. To everyone’s surprise, Johnson actually announces his retirement from MMA immediately after the defeat.

There has been plenty of speculation as to whether or not Johnson could return to the Octagon. Many fans would love to see him matched up against Jon Jones, as it’s believed “Rumble’s” knockout power could provide Jones a challenge unlike any other he has ever experienced.

In the meantime, Johnson will be keeping busy on the grappling mat, and also serves as an ambassador for Bare Knuckle FC.

The post Anthony Johnson Set To Grapple Against Craig Jones At Submission Underground 9 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.