Due to the fact that he walked away just moments after he competed for a UFC title, Johnson understands hes in a various situation. Add to that with three years far from the sport and still being simply 36, Johnson had time to enable his body and mind to heal as he starts another run in the UFC.
It appears Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz are on a clash to fight for the vacant title however Johnson will certainly be a welcome addition once hes eligible to contend again in 2021.
Jon Jones simply abandoned his title and Cormier has actually seemingly retired following his newest battle, which indicates for the very first time considering that 2011, there will be a brand-new UFC light heavyweight champ aside from those two guys.
The former title competitor really retired back in 2017 after suffering a second-round submission loss to Daniel Cormier in his quote to lighten heavyweight champ. Later on, Johnson kept his focus far from battling beyond an ambassador function he took on with the fledgling promotion at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships.
But as time passed, Johnson began to feel the desire to compete again and he made his intents clear that he intended to go back to battling. Earlier today, Johnsons supervisor Ali Abdelaziz confirmed prepare for him to return to the UFCs anti-doping program, which needs 6 months of drug screening prior to hes enabled to eliminate again.
Its not unusual for fighters to return from retirement only to find a less than effective future awaiting them.
When he finally books his very first battle, Johnson will go back to a much various division than the one he left in 2017.
” So I know at one point I was against people coming back from retirement. Ive seen everyone that came out of retirement get mopped up.”
” So I know at one point I protested people coming back from retirement. You typically see them getting mopped up. B.J. Penn returned got mopped. Ive seen everybody that came out of retirement get mopped up.”
” Honestly, I missed out on the sport,” Johnson explained when asked about his UFC return throughout a BKFC interview. “I missed out on competing.
Johnson included that he currently has “a couple more fights” on his present UFC deal but hes not setting any expectations about his future yet up until he lastly makes his return.
” I just do not desire to be among those people to get mopped up however I still feel great,” Johnson said. “I have no injuries. While I remained in the UFC, I didnt get struck much unless I lost which wasnt typically.”
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is finally all set to make his return to the UFC but his comeback is happening regardless of his higher instinct about fighters who do not understand when to stroll away.
According to Johnson, hes actually been among the strongest opponents versus fighters returning from retirement but he felt like he remained in a different situation than a number of the professional athletes who simply do not understand when to call it gives up.
Johnson did validate his intention to compete in the light heavyweight division despite previously meaning a return at heavyweight.
” I just do not desire to be one of those people to get mopped up however I still feel good,” Johnson stated. While I was in the UFC, I didnt get struck much unless I lost and that wasnt often.”
