Anthony Johnson released from the UFC (Updated)
Posted on January 15, 2012, 01:04 AM by Joey Santosus
"Rumble Johnson did the damage to himself. To be that unprofessional, to not come in on weight, and that far off when you used to fight at 170, now you went to 185 pounds so you wouldn’t have trouble making weight, and this is your worst weight cut ever? It’s a detriment to himself.
To be honest with you, we're probably going to cut him after this event. Three strikes and you're out. This is his third time that he hasn’t made weight. He's the co-main event in a huge fight down here in Brazil, and this one was a bad one." - FuelTV Post Fight Show
Looks like being choked out in front of a jam-packed crowed at the HSBC Arena wasn't enough punishment for Anthony Johnson. According to UFC President Dana White, who was present for the UFC 142 Post-Fight Show on Fuel TV, the bloated Welterweight, turned 185'er will "probably be cut" following tonight's defeat against Vitor Belfort.
The likely release of "Rumble" stems from his inability to make weight for the fight, which served as the co-main event for the promotion's highly anticipated return to Brazil. Though missing weight is an all too common, albeit unwelcome, occurrence for fighters, Johnson made the transition to Middleweight after failing to make the Welterweight limit on multiple occasions. Therefore, tipping the scales at a massive 12-pounds over weight for Saturday's bout was his third, and final, strike, according to White. But, what do you think LowKick'ers? Does the punishment fit the crime, or should Johnson be granted another shot at making 185?
Update:
According to MMAJunkie.com, Anthony Johnson is now officially released from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dana White is once again quoted saying "three strikes and you're out", claiming that Anthony Johnson's weigh-in rumble was one of the most unprofessional situations in the UFC history:
RIO DE JANEIRO – Anthony Johnson's third weighcutting mistake will be his last in the UFC, at least for now.
Following Saturday night's UFC 142 event at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, UFC president Dana White terminated Johnson's contract.
"This is his third time," White said of Johnson's failure to make weight for the third time in his octagon career. "Three strikes and you're gone.
Further Reading: Belfort vs. Johnson Official; Unapologetic "Rumble" weighs-in at 204lbs
Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
let him fight at lhw he can hump a lot of fighters there. i hope he can make weight.
I say let him fight Frank Mir at HW that is prob the worst punishment you could recieve.
They cut Torres for rape comments, and then sign him again. They cut Gonzaga after 2 straight losses, and they pick him up for Rio 2. Anthony Johnson, a young, exciting fighter, misses weight for a 3rd time (the 3rd time due to medical reasons) gets cut.
Dan Hardy must be blowin' the right people because that just doesn't add up.
I say it all the time, dont **** with Dana's card, and ruin fights with missing weight and drug test, he dosnt care about anything else. The number one goal is to put the shows on successfully as advertise.
He would probably weigh-in at 285
He 100% deserves to be cut, but no need for the capital punishment that Mir would certainly give him!!!
If Dana is saying "Probably" then it will probably depend on what AJ does and says. He can probably save his job if he talks to Dana and says all the right things. If Miguel Torres can redeem himself from a rape joke I'm sure Rumble can earn himself one more chance.
aj is unapologetic he said he has a medical condition and he need to be revived after cutting too much weight. you can't stay arrogant with dana, he easily cuts people away without hesitation if you've done wrong.
Yeah, sure you will cut him for being unprofessional, but somehow a guy like Chael Sonnen still has a job in the UFC. I guess being unprofessional is a lot worse than cheating in a title fight, right?
Some people are infatuated with Chael and cant get him out of their heads.
Chael makes weight and fights and delivers. testosterone replacement therapy is not giant building anabolics.
You crucify Chael, but on the other hand, you say Johnson didnt do anything wrong. Thats double standards. How many times did Chael miss weight and almost destroy a fight card in Brazil?
Bottom line is Chael makes Dana LOTS of money and Johnson almost cost him lots of money.
agree, money makes the world go round for dana.
What is is walking around weight? Wouldn't he be better off @ 205 versus trying to make such drastic weight cuts? The dude is big... quick as hell...
Some fighters can handle the cut... but... he isn't one IMO and from the failed weigh ins
He cant handle the 205's thats why hes taking the pus&y route
dudes.... FUUUUUUCK RUMBLE! arrogant mother ****er.
Great job Vitor Belfort! WAR BELFORT!
But Dana, Dana! over here son, please cut Chael Sonnen first. seriously that guy is captain of the ****'n Douche-bag Parade. I'm so sick of that guy's mouth i'm thowing-up more than Logan Stanton.
let him fight only in LHW and see if he manages to make weight there.
he looked way bigger than belfort and I dont understand how he ever made WW....
he must be the biggest weight cutter of them all....
Dana cuts guys way to quick now. Torres, AJ, Marquardt. He loses 20% of his purse isn't that enough. I want to see the best in the world fight. Not the best companymen
Thats ok Rumble isnt the best in the world, never will be. Im not upset hes gone one bit.
**** johnson,he deserves it,all his bullshit about illness,the guys attitude stinks,from the way he fights to the fact that he doesn't care about putting on a show,he's quite happy to lay on dan hardy for 3 rounds after saying he was gonna stand & bang & had the front to grin arrogantly when the crowd booed him,he wont be missed.
Being "the best" includes showing up on fight night able to fight.
If Vitor had refused to fight, which would have been well within his rights, then the UFC loses a co-main event, with no time to find a replacement match.
And say what you want about Sonnen, he never messed up a match at the last minute.
i lol'd at sonnen messing up at the last minute :')
Good. I won't miss him.
Shocking news....
You could just see how pissed Dana was at the wiegh-ins....
I ended up buying the event. Not only did I get to see Anthony "Im too good to follow the rules" Johnson get his ass choked out, I also get to see him cut from the UFC. Pretty damn good night after all. Thnx Vitor!
If you have a big mouth and cant back it up, I dont want you around.
It's all politics with Dana White. He likes to control every aspect of a fighters life...big or small. Lot of fighters should have been cut long ago but King Dana makes the final call. Dana...the white Don King minus the hair.
Dana is far from being Don King... This was a completely fair cut.. This is AJs 3rd time missing weight and he was disrespectful about it towards the fans media and organization in interviews after the weigh ins...
I walked past your PC earlier and the power cord almost leg locked me....you live up to your name.
to cut antony was more than right, but Dana is a dictator in a lot of other cases..
in a few years he will be worse than Don king...
I dont know if he deserved to be cut, maybe a couple of forced fights at LHW before he is allowed to attempt MW again but either way he brought it on himself and has basically only himself to blame.
I don't know but it seems to me he just is not professional enough to make weight no matter what weight he fights at... This, for whatever reason or excuse, is very unprofessional! He may have been sick or whatever but I have been an athlete all my life, along with many of you, and in all honesty most people are not 100% no matter what... especially after the training you have to go though for these fights! No excuse at all!
Rumble is a bum anyways,it was time to take out the trash!!!!
How do u figure he was a bum. He knocked out the majority of the people he fought in a spectacular fashion. He does deserve to be punished for being unprofessional and missing weight but he is far from a bum. I'm sure if he got his weight under control and wasn't so drained from trying to cut so much weight he would've have done alt better in this fight. I love Vitor, no doubt he is a beast but you could tell half way through the round that AJ was out of gas. So I wouldn't call him a bum just for losing to a world class fighter like Belfort.
they should throw him into SF, let him have a few fights see if he straightens up his act.
extra kudos to Belfort on his win being that he beat a much larger man at a disadvataged catch weight.
What was his fight weight? I thought I heard Vitor was at 205 and AJ was 211. If he didn't keep it 205 or under like Vitor wanted then it was right to fire the guy.
By the way, Dan Miragliotta sucks. Stupid stand ups. I guess the ref wanted some Brazilian fans for himself by preventing AJ from humping Vitor to a decision. Those two should not have went to the ground but stupid ref!
he weighed 204 at noon of fight-day, as agreed, then took in fluids for a few hours to get to 211
Anthony "Overweight" Johnson
Anthony "Stumble" Johnson! =D
We are giving nicknames now?
Anthony "I'm Not Fat I'm just big boned" Johnson
Anthony "Jenny Craig" Johnson
Anthony "I should skip a meal" Johnson
Anthony "Beefcake" Johnson
I didn't know who Anthony Johnson was before I watched UFC primetime and now he's getting cut? Man I'm late to the party.