Anthony Johnson News

Jeffrey Walter - November 13, 2022

Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, a former two-time UFC title challenger, died Sunday at the tender age of 38. BJPENN.com confirmed the tragic news from sources close to Johnson’s family.

Christopher Taylor - November 13, 2022

Former UFC title challenger Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson has passed away at the tender age of 38. It was late last month that MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz asked everyone to say a prayer for Johnson during an interview with ESPN.

Harry Kettle - October 28, 2022

Ali Abdelaziz has asked everyone to pray for Anthony Johnson as he continues to battle ongoing health concerns. For the longest time now, Anthony Johnson has been known as one of the best knockout artists in MMA history. In the eyes of many, of course, he just goes by the name ‘Rumble’.

Harry Kettle - July 1, 2022

UFC legend Daniel Cormier issued an apology to Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson last night after coming clean about towelgate. As part of International Fight Week, Daniel Cormier was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame after years of success with the promotion. In addition to becoming a two-weight world champion, he also managed to defeat some big names throughout his run including Stipe Miocic, Derrick Lewis, Anderson Silva, Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson and more.

Jeffrey Walter - February 6, 2022

Anthony Johnson has slammed Bruce Buffer for suggesting fighters “become irrelevant” when they leave the UFC. The topic of fighter pay, or a lack there of, has been a hot topic in recent weeks.

Harry Kettle - January 3, 2022

Bellator president Scott Coker has cast a shadow of doubt over the immediate future of Dillon Danis and Anthony Johnson in the promotion. There are plenty of reasons for fans of Bellator to feel hopeful as we begin 2022. The last twelve months have seen them continue to flourish with high-profile title fights, big signings and successful tournaments.

Adam Martin - October 31, 2021

Anthony Johnson congratulated his former foe Glover Teixeira on winning the UFC light heavyweight title, telling him “you deserve the belt.” Teixeira submitted Jan Blachowicz in the second round with a rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 267 to capture the UFC light heavyweight title for the first time at age 42. It is an absolutely incredible story as Teixeira became the second-oldest fighter behind Randy Couture to win a UFC title. What makes it even more surprising is that it was just a few years ago when Teixeira was brutally knocked out by “Rumble” and left for dead by many fans. That was back in 2016, and two fights later, Teixeira got knocked out by Alexander Gustafsson. At that point, he had lost three of five fights and no one could have realistically expected him to ever win the belt. But he’s won his last six straight and is now a champ.

Christopher Taylor - October 22, 2021

Anthony Johnson has slammed Paulo Costa for his recent weight debacle prior to Saturday’s UFC Vegas 41 main event. Costa (13-1 MMA) was expected to return to action in a middleweight bout against Marvin Vettori this weekend in Las Vegas. However, earlier this week ‘The Eraser’ revealed he could not make weight for the contest and the bout was subsequently moved up to light heavyweight.

Chris Taylor - September 18, 2021

Anthony Johnson has been forced to withdraw from the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix and the situation sounds rather serious. Johnson (23-6 MMA), a former UFC title challenger, advanced to the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals back in May with a second round knockout victory over Jose Augusto.

Adam Martin - August 1, 2021

Light heavyweight bouts featuring Anthony Johnson vs. Vadim Nemkov and Ryan Bader vs. Corey Anderson have been set for a fall Bellator event. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi was the first to report that Johnson vs. Nemkov and Bader vs. Anderson will take place on October 16 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Johnson vs. Nemkov fight will be for the promotion’s 205lbs belt that Nemkov currently possesses, while the winner of Bader vs. Anderson will meet the winner of the Johnson vs. Nemkov fight next year to crown a tournament winner and the new champion at 205lbs.

Adam D Martin - May 11, 2021

Bellator light heavyweight star Anthony Johnson was arrested for identity theft in Connecticut following his big win last weekend. The Daily Voice was the first to report the arrest of Johnson. According to police reports, Johnson illegally used a credit card in November 2019 in order to purchase a round-trip ticket from Newark, New Jersey, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Johnson was named as the passenger of the ticket. New Canaan police obtained a warrant for Johnson’s arrest, and “Rumble” was taken into custody following his fight last weekend at Bellator 258 where he knocked out Jose Augusto in one of the most exciting MMA fights of the year.

Chris Taylor - May 8, 2021

Jose Augusto has issued a classy statement following his second round knockout loss to Anthony Johnson at last night’s Bellator 258 event. Augusto (7-3 MMA) had taken last night’s fight with ‘Rumble’ on short-notice, this after Johnson’s originally slated opponent Yoel Romero was forced off the card.

Cole Shelton - May 7, 2021

In the co-main event of Bellator 258, Anthony Johnson is set to make his promotional debut and return to MMA against short-notice replacement, Jose Augusto. The fight also serves as the quarter-finals of the light heavyweight grand prix. Anthony Johnson (22-6) is making his return after retiring after he suffered a submission loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 for the UFC’s light heavyweight title. Prior to the setback, he was on a three-fight winning streak with KO wins over Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, and Jimi Manuwa. In his career, “Rumble” holds notable wins over Alexander Gustafsson, Phil Davis, Andrei Arlovski, and Dan Hardy. He also lost to Cormier at UFC 187 for the belt as well.

Adam D Martin - May 7, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight Anthony Johnson is excited about his return to MMA at Bellator 258, saying that he wants to have “fun” fights. Johnson returns from a four-year layoff when he takes on Jose Augusto Azevedo this Friday night at Bellator 258 as part of the Bellator World Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. Johnson was originally targeted to fight Yoel Romero, but after Romero was removed due to a medical issue, Azevedo stepped up on short notice. For Johnson, it’s disappointing because he was really looking forward to throwing down and banging with Romero. But going in there and getting to mix it up with someone like Azevedo is also exciting for him.

Cole Shelton - May 4, 2021

Anthony Johnson was supposed to fight Yoel Romero in the quarterfinals of the light heavyweight grand prix on Friday but that is no longer the case. Last week, it was revealed Romero failed his pre-fight medical and was out of the fight against Johnson. The hope was to get a replacement opponent and that ended up being the case as Johnson will face Jose Augusto in the co-main event.

Adam Martin - May 2, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson looks lean and mean ahead of his promotional debut for Bellator next weekend. Johnson was set to make his promotional debut next Friday night against former UFC fighter Yoel Romero at Bellator 258 as part of the promotion’s 205lbs Grand Prix. Unfortunately, Romero had to withdraw from the tournament this week due to a medical issue, which temporarily left Johnson without an opponent. Bellator ended up finding Team Pitbull representative Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros to take the fight on short notice.

Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021

Anthony Johnson issued a statement after Yoel Romero was pulled from the upcoming Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. Johnson vs. Romero was one of four scheduled quarterfinal bouts in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix and it was set to go down next Friday, May 7 for five rounds or less. Unfortunately for both men, the fight will not go on as planned after Romero failed a pre-fight medical scan and was removed from the tournament entirely. That means Johnson currently is without an opponent, though Bellator is expected to name a replacement soon, with Julius Anglickas the favorite to take Romero’s spot in the tourney.

Drake Riggs - April 28, 2021

Anthony Johnson has fought a who’s who of tough opponents throughout his career. But he expects his next to be the most dangerous. Set to make his Bellator MMA debut on May 7 as part of the light heavyweight Grand Prix at Bellator 258, “Rumble” squares off with a fellow former multi-time UFC title challenger. It’s “Rumble” vs. the “Soldier of God,” Yoel Romero.