Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson is coming to the bare knuckle arena.
Looking quite larger than his days as a competitor in the Octagon, Johnson confirmed that he has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships during the organization’s pay-per-view event on Saturday night. A date and opponent for Johnson’s debut were not revealed.
“Rumble” announced his retirement from MMA following a second-round submission loss to Daniel Cormier in a title bout at UFC 210 in April 2017. It was Johnson’s second loss to Cormier in a championship fight, as he also fell to “DC” for the vacant 205-pound strap at UFC 187 in May 2015.
Other than the losses to Cormier, Johnson was one of the sport’s most feared power punchers, winning 12 of his final 14 pro bouts. The stretch included notable KO/TKO victories over the likes of Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, Jimi Manuwa, Alexander Gustafsson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Thank god he’s not fighting… yet. What poor dumb sap would sign up to fight Rumble in Bare knuckle?! He would legit kill someone. #BKFC4 pic.twitter.com/4TzWbIL9q6
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) February 3, 2019