Manager: Anthony Johnson to meet with UFC about return, likely at heavyweight

[The Big Guy]

Anthony Johnson’s time in retirement might be short.

Johnson’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour that “Rumble,” known for his devastating knockout power, is planning a potential comeback and they will be meeting with UFC president Dana White this week to discuss it.

“It has to make sense for him,” Abdel-Aziz said.

Johnson, 33, would likely return to the UFC as a heavyweight after spending the last three years competing at 205 pounds. Johnson fell to UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier by second-round submission in the main event of UFC 210 back in April. Afterwards, he shockingly announced his retirement in the Octagon.

“He’ll come back as a heavyweight,” Abdel-Aziz said. “We want him to come back as a heavyweight.”

Rumble said in May that he was going to be venturing into the marijuana business, which would take him away from focusing on MMA full time. He’s also been outspoken about concussions and the brain disease CTE as reasons why he doesn’t want to fight long term. Back in July, Johnson said he was not considering a comeback.


Abdel-Aziz acknowledged on The MMA Hour that Johnson would have to be in the USADA drug testing pool for six months before returning to competition, which means a potential next fight wouldn’t happen until the second quarter of 2018 at the earliest.

Johnson (22-6) has fought twice for the UFC light heavyweight title and those are his only losses, both to Cormier, going back to 2012. At that time, during his first run with the UFC, he attempted to cut to welterweight. After being released from the promotion, he wisely chose to fight at 205 pounds, rather than 170 or 185, and it resurrected his career in World Series of Fighting.

Now, if it happens, it seems like Rumble will be returning to fight in the heavyweight division, where he’s only competed once (a unanimous decision win over Andrei Arlovski at WSOF 2 in March 2013).

“We’re meeting with UFC this week to see what he wants to do,” Abdel-Aziz said. “Dana White really loves Anthony Johnson. How can you not love Anthony Johnson? He’s terrifying.”

Manager: Anthony Johnson to meet with UFC about return, likely at heavyweight

 

[sparkuri]

I knew it.
You can't triple stamp a double stamp.
The HW division needs Rumble.

 

[Mix6APlix]

he should go to 170 and fight the Irish guy.

 

[Gay For Longo]

Guessing the hold up on Florida marijuana licencing plays a part in this

Happy he' back if true

 

[The Big Guy]

Guessing the hold up on Florida marijuana licencing plays a part in this

Happy he' back if true

Yea its complete BS florida is fucking over the voters

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Going to heavy is a good move. Fewer wrestlers to take him down and choke him out up there.

 

[jason73]

worried about CTE.comes back as a heavyweight .makes sense right?

 

[Greek777]

I'd like to see it. HW is stale right now. Rumble could get a title shot off of one big win. The idea of he and Stipe slugging it out is very intriguing. I think Stipe would win but I still wanna see it.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

We need him at LHW!

 

[Papi Chingon]

We need him at LHW!

For what? He beats everyone he fights, except cormier. Cormier beat him twice by stoppage, so we don't need to see that fight again. Should rumble just off each contender so Daniel has no one to fight? That's what jones would have wanted as champ, but not cormier.

 

[Mishima Zaibatsu]

For what? He beats everyone he fights, except cormier. Cormier beat him twice by stoppage, so we don't need to see that fight again. Should rumble just off each contender so Daniel has no one to fight? That's what jones would have wanted as champ, but not cormier.

LHW is starved for talent.

Johnson is arguably number 2 in the division. A rematch with Gus and a fight with Oz would be firworks. There are still a few other guys he could fight.

Imagine a fight with Gokhan once hes had a few wins under his belt THAT would be something else.

Its robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 

[Wild]

he should go to 170 and fight the Irish guy.

He's about the size of Diaz, so I Conor shouldn't have a problem.

 

[ShakaSway]

I dont know. Came in light at the last weigh in.

Never forget

 

[SongExotic2]

Dan Hardy scared him all the way to hw

 

[benjo0101]

Abdel Aziz is talking. I wonder what is really going on

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

He used to cut to WW!! What a machine!!

 

[Mix6APlix]

#KidneyFailureBefore40

 

[The Big Guy]

#KidneyFailureBefore40

Brutal

 

[Jdog93]

I for one am glad he's back. If not at LHW
HW is great. Not a lot depth in that division but a few big names. Mark Hunt, Alistair Ubereem, etc.

I need me some Johnson!

...... Wait.

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

His best bet is at LHW. DC only has a couple of fights left before 40 then it’s downhill or up to HW. Rumble don’t want DC at HW.

Aside from Gus, LHW would be his to rule. I don’t think he could beat Gus in a clean fight, but Gus doesn’t fight often so Rumble could get the belt without having to face Gus again.

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Not to say he’s a dirty fighter. He definitely isn’t. Just meant that his win over Gus wasn’t a clean win. The clash of heads won the fight.

 

[Dat Pre-HollyHolm Ronda $]

Damn glad Rumble is back!

Also it just sunk in for me... Jones fighting career is actually
over and he'll never fight again.

 

[regular john]

lol when he "retired" I knew he would come back but I thought he would chill for at least an year.

 

[Onetrickpony]

 

[member 3289]

Guessing the hold up on Florida marijuana licencing plays a part in this

Happy he' back if true

He was actually going to be doing the medical marijuana thing in Canada. Is it being held up there, too?