UFC 142: Vitor Belfort chokes out Anthony Johnson in Round 1
Posted on January 14, 2012, 10:43 PM by Anton GurevichMulti-time UFC champion Vitor Belfort made a huge step towards another shot at the UFC Middleweight title, after choking out Anthony "Rumble" Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 142.
Anthony Johnson opened the fight aggressively, chasing Belfort around the Octagon with strikes and takedowns attempts. Johnson was successful with his first takedown, followed by a vicious diving ground and pound strike that got Belfort's right eye grotesquely swollen. However, Belfort managed to bounce back by timing in effective strikes, and defending Johnson's takedown attempts. Rumble got reckless, and missed a lot of strikes during a short amount of time, allowing Vitor Belfort to fully control the action inside the Octagon.
The turning point of the fight came when Vitor Belfort managed to sprawl another takedown. Belfort took Johnson's back and locked a tight body triangle, looking to set up a Rear Naked Choke attempt. The Phenom softened up his prey with ground and pound, got his arm under Johnson's chin to lock a super tight Rear Naked Choke. Johnson almost went to sleep, as the referee stopped the action at 4:49 of Round 1.
It's a huge victory for Vitor Belfort, in his 30th professional MMA bout. The Phenom is now 21-9, with sights on securing another shot at the UFC Middleweight title. Belfort will face the fellow TUF: Brazil coach Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva in his next bout, looking to solidify his status as the top contender.
Comments
was a good fight until rumble completly gassed
he did gas. He was throwing desperately on the feet and once he went down he made almost no attempt to escape or change position or defend really.
Johnson didnt fight like he normally does imo, he was really sloppy with his strikes and takedowns, idk if it was because hes fighting Vitor, or cause of the cut or if he had a prior injury but regardless Vitor looked amazing, great standing up and finally got too see some of the bjj bb skills
If Rumble won today, the fans woulda killed him
Vitor very well possibly saved his life
ok there goes your weight debate. thanks johnson
That fight got stood up way too soon twice.
I'm glad vitor won cos I hate the lay n pray mentality but you have
to be consistent and do that with all fights.
If GSP got stood up that quickly every time we would have a different WW champ.
ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) Rumble, y u no cut weight sooner. now u gas out
Post fight presser
Reporter: "Dana was this Rumble Johnson's last fight in the UFC"
Dana: "Yes I think it was"
Lol... He just officially got cut... !!! so i guess your forecast was right on the money!
Good performance by Vitor, but if one guys gasses out half way through the first round, I don't think it qualifies as a good fight.
How clueless do you have to be to go up a weight class and still miss weight? If he won, he might have been given another chance...
the post fight press conference hasn't even started yet
I'm well aware, I'm forecasting the future
i didnt see him gas as such.. little tired sure, but its not like he wasnt being active.. just gave up his back
put your glasses on and watch the fight again, johnson was extremely tried.
The fight got stood up twice way to early, also against the cage it was separated within moments. Also Vitor delivered a few "back of the head" shots, and some elbows. I'm not using those as excuses just point out. I mean Rumble was holding the back of his own head when Vitor sneaked in that choke.
maybe mario should have refereed that fight, he would have also DQ rumble! but im glad he didnt HAH
lol, he got what he deserved. it will be a while until he gets another fight.
watch dana f with him and make him sit for a while.
make him go through TUF to learn how to cut weight.
I don't know why everybody is on AJ's case. He was 186-7 in the morning but got sick, so the UFC doctors pumped him full of liquids and he was at 197 at the weigh ins. On fight night he was 211 and Vitor was 206, both fight at 185. The whole weight class system does not work. Whats the point, everybody knows that the fighters are cutting weight, nobody fights at their weight during the fight. It does not level out the playing field, it's just a science experiment of who can cut weight better while retaining full potential on fight night. I have large respect of guys that don't cut weight.
he didn't help himself by being really apologetic. Plus I think there's a sense that he's 'ducking' the bigger guys and kinda cheating the system. Everyone does it I guess but there's such a big jump between LHW and MW that it kinda feels like he's giving himself an unfair advantage. TBF Belfort does the same, no way that guy's a MW.
My friends and I burst out laughing when Bruce announced that this was a 'middleweight fight'....yeah right Bruce.
he got sick because he attempted sucha drastic weight cut, if he was smart he would have started sooner or just been safe and taken a fight a LHW. It's nobody but his own fault.
Do his defense, it all seemed like really bad luck, taking a fight on short notice, getting sick from the weight cut, get doctors to balloon him back up to to almost 200lbs, it's a two way street, but still some bad luck is involved. I understand, but majority of the guys do that. There are so many guys that cut more than 15-20 and at times 30 pounds to do the same thing.
Johnson either doesnt know how to cut weight or hes just too damn big to be fighting at that weight. Why defend his dumbass?
taking the fight on short notice??
Thats a ludicrous statement. He has made 170 before, so obviously he can cut weight. Actually the only person i can think who can cut that much weight is A.S.
Awesome Win For Vitor...... Great Fight... Vitor is Brazil...
If that tweet from Dana is true....Rumble is finished in the ufc. He stupid anyway...He moves up in weight class and he still cant cut wait. In the weigh in it apeared he was trying to tell Dana what happened about weight but Dana didnt want to hear it. That is so unproffessional when a person doesnt take making weight seriously. I can see that pissed off Dana.....Rumble was so messed up with his weight that I think he didnt train properly which affect also his cardio....He was getting tired and got his ass choked...
Last night Jesus was too busy helping Vitor Belfort choke out Anthony Johnson to care about Tim Tebow and his football game.
Screw football! Im sick of seeing people talk about it here!
So hyped that we finally got to see Vitor's BJJ skills and holy crap he looked amazing! I almost jumped out my seat when he tried for the omoplata, I've never seen someone move off their back that quick. When he got on top for the choke he looked outstanding, no trouble to sink it in!
Vitor just proved once again he is still amazing and one of the top in the world.
I always thought Chael would go through Vitor but after seeing Vitor off his back last night... he could have a decent chance subbing or sweeping Chael.
Johnson has unlimited potential but he clearly does not care enough to take MMA serious. Glad hes out of UFC hope they give a serious fighter who can make weight a chance in Johnsons place.