Former UFC welterweight Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson (14-4) earned a highlight knockout victory this weekend in the co-main event of the inaugural World Series of Fighting 1 event, finishing opponent D.J. Linderman who had never been finished before, in the first round.
Johnson and Linderman fought at light heavyweight, making it the third straight win for ‘Rumble’ at 205-lbs and it was one of the “Best decisions that I’ve ever made in my life.”
Speaking to Sherdog.com Johnson about the eye poke and the one punch knockout over Linderman as well as his decision to move up in weight permanently.
“I was always upset. I hated everybody if I was dropping to 170 [pounds], especially on weigh-in day,” Johnson told Sherdog.com after his knockout of D.J. Linderman at the World Series of Fighting’s debut event. “Everything happens for a reason. I don’t take back anything that happened in my past, because if it hadn’t happened back then, I wouldn’t be who I am right now. Moving to [light heavyweight] was definitely the best decision that I’ve ever made in my life.”
“I heard D.J.’s corner say, ‘Go get him,’ because they thought it was an opportunity. He just left himself open. I trained to step backward and punch at the same time, kind of like how Chuck Liddell used to do. We train that day in and day out,” said Johnson. “Usually when you knock somebody out, you don’t feel it. You just happen to hit them in the right spot, and that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t think he was going to fall the way he did. I don’t think he’s ever been knocked out or stopped like that. I think I was the first, so I’m proud of myself.”
In a previous interview, Johnson has no immediate plans but would like to step back into the cage as quickly as possible for his next fight.
