Dana White says "unprofessional" Anthony Johnson must remain under 205 lbs. to fight Vitor Belfort
Posted on January 13, 2012, 04:31 PM by Joey Santosus
Following his well-documented struggles to make the 170-pound weight limit, reports that Anthony Johnson was set to debut at Middleweight opposite Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 came as welcomed news to fans of "Rumble."
After all, if the explosive knockout artist was capable of running through opponents after such a drastic weight cut, then imagine what Johnson could do at full capacity.
According to UFC President Dana White, however, it's a question that will remain unanswered for the time being. "Rumble Johnson is not on weight today," White revealed on Fuel TV. "And when I say he's not on weight, he's way off weight."
Off weight, indeed. Johnson tipped the scales at a whopping 197-pounds, 12-pounds over the required Middleweight limit.
"As a fighter, you are a professional. You are contracted to come in at a certain weight," said White. "This is not the first time this has happened with Johnson. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen to him at 170 pounds, and here we are in the same position again. (Belfort) came in like a professional on weight, and Anthony Johnson comes in as a total unprofessional, way overweight."
As they say, though, the show must go on, and according to White, Belfort has agreed to go ahead with the fight, but only under the condition that Johnson weighs no more than 205-pounds at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
"The stipulation is, Vitor does not want him to weigh more than 205 pounds by tomorrow at like 2 o'clock in the afternoon," White explained. "So we'll see how this thing plays out. He'll weigh in today and have to weigh in tomorrow."
Should Johnson fail to remain under the 205 mark, the match-up, which is currently scheduled as the co-main event, will be canceled.
Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more information as it becomes available.
Further Reading: UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes Weigh-In Video and Results
Props: MMAFighting.com | Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
what....the ****....
Indeed this is ridicules man they should weigh him just before he enters the octagon. He clearly doesnt care.
Yea sorry guys. He thought rashad and "the other dude" where still stepping on the scale to mess with him.that's why he was smiling till Dana hit him with the consequences.That's d only reason I can come up with for that ridiculous smile.....cos i'm thinking to myself, ARE YOU ****ING SERIOUS AJ??
well done vitor for not canceling the fight
Vitor is the man for letting the show go ahead but to e fair do you really think he feels like he has a choice? I'm ure White was very suppotive of Vitor keeping the co-main ecent alive.
I don't even know if they get paid if Vitor turns it down.
That is craaaazy! 12 pounds over looks like he's not even tryin, and the way he was smiling was really dis-respectful.
Send this guy down to strike force till he learns his lesson.
Well done Vitor. True warrior. Hope he knocks rumble out!
I bet the scales rumbled when he stepped on!
197 after a weightcut?, jesus, how the **** he ever made 170 is a miracle.
its a good stipulation from belfort, he'll probably come in at 205 himself so that closes the gap on the advantage and means rumble will be feeling drained tomorrow afternoon
shocking!!!
this should never happen at this level, AJ should have his pay slashed by 50%!
good on Belfort for taking the fight. tho wonder if he considered that AJ will be feeling drained by not being able to fully rehydrate? incase he misses the 205 weight!
should of said 200lbs max by 2pm and AJ would of been exhausted come fight time
Anthony Johnson is an idiot. Making weight is a huge part of the game--and this is not the first time Johnson has missed weight badly. The irony is that it is at MW, instead of the ludicrous WW which he used to fight at.
Not only does he loes 20 % of his purse, and any KO, Sub, or Fight of the Night bonuses, he has pissed off his boss--who has the power to end his career. If Johnson should defeat Belfort, the win will be tainted, and he will not reap the rewards in the UFC standings as he would have if he made weight.
The reason he is an idiot is because it is a factor directly under his control--with plenty of time for preparation--and the harmful effects of not making weight so often are hurting his career, his pay, and his reputation among fans and other fighters.
I think since Aj has showed his reluctance or inability to make MW he should have to fight at LHW, for a fight or two just to teach him a lesson. White was going to do it with Alvez so why not AJ?
Also I think that you shouldn't always get fined 20% of your purse.
Someone like AJ who has failed more than once and has now failed after going up in weight should get docked at least 50%, it's absolutely BS.
Rumble will be weighing 185 on fight day don't worry, after Vitor knocks lumps out of him.
WAR BELFORT
I agree, WAR VITOR! he deserves it more for sure.
this is very negative for johnson in so many ways. watching the weigh ins, it didnt even look like he tried to lose any weight at all. all of the fighters came up all sucked up of fluids and fat while johnson stood there as happy as can be. losing weight does not put you in a good mood at all. 12 POUNDS?!!! that kinda shows how serious he has taken this fight and how serious of an opponent he believes vitor is. if this was for a titlle, you think maybe he would have tried a little harder? i think the ufc should take at least half his purse and give it to vitor for manning up. also if he happens to win, i think his win bonus should also go to vitor. he has to take this more serious or go fight other overweight guys like big country. i am very disappointed in johnson right now and i believe he is showing us why he's not a champion. i was rooting for him for this fight, but now i hope he gets his ass kicked in highlight fashion.
Hahahaha HA! haha heh 8P dumbass
This guy should just ****ing fight at heavy weight
um Vitor wants him to weigh no more than 205? why not make him cut more weight?
Vitor will be at least 205 lbs. on fight night.
cos hes talking about tomorrow, everyone who weighed in is drinking bucketloads of water right now and getting all the nutrients back that they starved themselves of all day, but not rumble.
Just think if he weighs in more than 205 tomorrow, i think that would be him gone from the UFC. Also if he does miss weight i wonder if the fight will be called off, hope not!
Look he is not fat he is just big boned!!!!! LOL
maybe anthony should just fight heavyweight yay!
I think he thought he was gonna have an easy weight cut at 185, so he might of not tried as hard earlier in the week. He should really have asked for a fight at 205, i'm pretty sure Joe Rogan has said that he normaly weighs about 220, so if he could get any bigger maybe HW isn't such a far stretch.
Most LHW weigh in around 230 and 220 is not uncommon for 185p either.
I know that, but he has trouble cutting weight so i'm thinking that it would be better for him to fight at a closer weight to what he walks around at inbetween fights.
Say goodbye to the UFC Anthony.
He should be made to fight an oiled up Turkish nut hugger for this ...that would teach him .http://www.ikigaiway.com/2009/unusual-martial-arts-turkish-oil-wrestling/
so the 185 div is actually a 205 div...?
didnt he weight him self before coming to the weightin???
yes he did but he used his wifes scales...(women always set the scales at less than zero to save a few pounds)....the look of shock on his face when he found out he'd put on 11lbs from leaving home to arriving at the weigh ins..