Anthony Johnson News

Cole Shelton - February 9, 2021

Yoel Romero is excited to face Anthony Johnson in his Bellator debut. It was revealed at Bellator’s press conference that both Romero and Johnson would be apart of the grand prix and face one another on April 16. It is a fight the fans wanted to see and Romero is eager for the fight to happen.

Tom Taylor - February 9, 2021

Bellator MMA is reportedly plotting an eight-man light heavyweight tournament featuring former UFC stars Yoel Romero, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Corey Anderson, and more. Bellator’s light heavyweight division has been quite strong for awhile now, as the home of fighters like Phil Davis, Ryan Bader, and reigning champion Vadim Nemkov. After the promotion signed former UFC contenders like Romero, Rumble and Anderson, however, its light heavyweight division is better than ever—debatably even better than the UFC’s.

Adam Martin - February 8, 2021

Newly-signed Bellator light heavyweight Yoel Romero donned his new uniform for the first time in anticipation of his promotional debut. Romero was released by the UFC in late 2020 as part of its mass exodus of 60 fighters from the roster. It didn’t take long for Romero to find a new home and he signed a free-agent deal with Bellator. The promotion has been on a bit of a hiatus for the last several months but is set to return in April with a new set of events. Expected to fight on one of the promotion’s first cards back is Romero.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2020

Anthony Johnson is “definitely down” to participate in a light heavyweight Grand Prix tournament in the Bellator MMA cage. Johnson, who previously challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, recently signed with Bellator, where he will put an anticipated end to his longstanding retirement from competition.

Adam Martin - December 16, 2020

Following his exit from the UFC, former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson revealed the one fight that got away from him. Johnson recently left the UFC to sign a free-agent contract with Bellator. Considering his last fight took place in 2017, it was surprising to see Johnson announce his comeback with Bellator seemingly out of nowhere. UFC president Dana White recently said that he would let Johnson explain why he left the promotion, and he did just that in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday. He also was asked if he had any regrets about his time with the UFC.

Cole Shelton - December 16, 2020

Anthony Johnson isn’t sure where Yoel Romero got his information from that it is 90 percent likely they will fight one another in their debuts. Both Johnson and Romero parted ways with the UFC and signed with Bellator this month and both men will fight at light heavyweight. Immediately, fans called for them to fight one another and even Romero said it is likely. “Rumble,” however, hasn’t heard any of that talk but is open to the fight.

Cole Shelton - December 16, 2020

Anthony Johnson has explained why he parted ways with the UFC and signed with Bellator. For over a year, “Rumble” has talked about returning to the sport and many figured it would be with the UFC. But, as he was about to return in 2021, it was revealed he and the UFC mutually agreed to part ways and he says that is all it is. He also makes it clear he has no ill-will towards the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Tom Taylor - December 16, 2020

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero says there’s “a huge possibility” he’ll fight Anthony Johnson in his Bellator debut. Romero and Johnson both called the UFC home for many years, however, both fighters recently landed on the Bellator roster.

Adam Martin - December 14, 2020

The opening betting odds have been revealed for a potential light heavyweight bout in Bellator between Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson. On Monday, Bellator announced that Romero is the latest member of the promotion’s roster. Unlike in the UFC, where Romero competed at 185lbs, he will move back up to 205lbs for his move to Bellator, the same weight class he competed at back in the Strikeforce days. It was in Strikeforce where he worked with current Bellator president Scott Coker, who last week announced he had signed Anthony Johnson to Bellator.

Adam Martin - December 10, 2020

UFC president Dana White says he had Anthony Johnson under contract, but that it was “in his best interest” to go to Bellator. When news broke this week that Johnson was making a comeback to MMA with Bellator and not with the UFC, it surprised a lot of fans and media, who assumed that Johnson would want to make another title run in the Octagon. “Rumble” has been testing a comeback to the game for a little while now, and with Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones leaving the UFC’s 205lbs weight class, it seemed like a prime opportunity for Johnson to make a run for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2021.

Harry Kettle - December 10, 2020

Bellator president Scott Coker has laid out his plans in the wake of the announcement that they have signed Anthony Johnson. The world of mixed martial arts was stunned earlier this week by the news that Johnson had parted ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in favor of signing a contract with Bellator.

Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020

Anthony Johnson has parted ways with the UFC, and will instead be mounting his comeback in the Bellator MMA cage. News of this move comes from Ariel Helwani of ESPN.

Tom Taylor - November 24, 2020

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou says he’s “very interested” in a potential heavyweight fight with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. Johnson, who has competed as low as the welterweight division in the past, achieved his biggest successes in the UFC light heavyweight division, where he twice challenged for the title. While he announced his retirement from MMA in 2017, he is now plotting a return to the Octagon, perhaps to the heavyweight division.

Christopher Taylor - October 14, 2020

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson has issued a scathing response to recent middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. Costa (13-1 MMA) put his undefeated mixed martial arts record on the line while hoping to dethrone middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-0 MMA) at last months UFC 253 pay-per-view event on Fight Island.

Christopher Taylor - September 30, 2020

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson is not impressed with recent middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. Costa (13-1 MMA) put his undefeated mixed martial arts record on the line while hoping to dethrone middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-0 MMA) at last weekend’s UFC 253 pay-per-view event on Fight Island.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2020

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson is looking absolutely lethal ahead of his planned return to the Octagon. Johnson has not fought since April of 2017, when he was submitted in his second attempt at swiping the UFC light heavyweight title from Daniel Cormier. Despite his lengthy hiatus, he does not seem to have lost a step in training.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 22, 2020

If you’re looking forward to the return of Anthony Johnson, Dana White’s update isn’t so encouraging. Back in the summer of 2019, it was revealed that “Rumble” planned to make a comeback in the UFC heavyweight division. “Rumble” was shooting for a date in March but we’re now in mid-2020 and Johnson still hasn’t stepped back inside the Octagon.

Adam Martin - June 3, 2020

Former UFC star Anthony Johnson jokingly teased a return to 170lbs in his latest post detailing an update on his current weight. Johnson is rumored to make his return to the UFC sometime this year after retiring in 2017. He has teased a return to the cage for the last few months, periodically posting updates on his current weight. Some have said that Johnson could return to the heavyweight division, but a return to light heavyweight could be in his future as well.