Outside Source
On Saturday night, Jon Jones dominated Anthony Smith over five rounds to retain his light heavyweight title t UFC 235. But there’s another Anthony MMA fans have wanted to see fight Jones for many years, and now it looks like the window is back open.
From 2014 to 2017, Anthony Johnson was among the most feared fighters in all of MMA. After moving up to the light heavyweight division from welterweight, Johnson left a trail of devastation in his wake, savagely knocking out nearly everyone he faced. After knocking out Alexander Gustafsson in two minutes, Johnson was expected to face Jon Jones at UFC 187. Unfortunately, that time turned out to be the start of Jones’ three-year saga of self-destruction so instead Johnson ended up facing Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title on two occasions, coming up short on both. The second time he lost to Cormier, Johnson retired from MMA to pursue a career in cannabis and CBD, and suddenly, the person MMA fans viewed as the most interesting possible fight for Jones, would never face him.
Or will he?
Speaking recently with the Into the Weeds podcast, Johnson backtracked his previous statements about staying retired, revealing that he would still come out of retirement to face Jon Jones, provided Jones moved up to heavyweight.
“The only way I’d come out of retirement is if Jon Jones goes to heavyweight, and then that’s when I’ll come out of retirement and fight Jon,” Johnson said. “I mean, that’s the only guy I want to fight, because after him, I can officially say I did my job, my mission is complete. Although I didn’t win a title, I fought the best of the best. I can go to sleep at night.”
Since his retirement in April of 2017, rumors have continually swirled around Johnson’s possible return to MMA. At UFC 214, when Jones and Cormier rematched, Johnson was brought in to do media surrounding the event and then in October of that year, his manager revealed that he and the UFC were having discussions about a possible return at heavyweight, since he had taken to bodybuilding in his off time. Nothing ever came of those talks but, with this new revelation and Jones fully back and admitting his move to heavyweight is “inevitable”, there is now new life for those still holding out hope for this lost superfight. There’s only one problem though: if it does happen, Johnson might be incredibly rusty as “Rumble” admitted he basically hasn’t trained since retiring.
“I haven’t trained since my last fight,” Johnson said. “I’ve been so focused on the cannabis and CBD, MMA just, I had to make everything else take a back seat, you know what I mean? I had to give it my undivided attention.”
On second thought, it might be better for Rumble to stay retired.
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Conor was feeling reflective.
What a sequence!
One of the craziest fights ever.
Also the birth of McGregor FAST!
The rematch was voted the greatest fight in UFC history.
My last one was a small bit wild also haha
I love this game.
This is my 3rd level of income at this point.
I just do it because I love it. https://t.co/hSjAr3moE7— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 6, 2019
I spoiled it with the rush right hook here. The angle was made. He was in the dirt. I just had to set correctly into my feet and fire. Rushing the right hook I lost balance on my back hand.
Great boxing fight!
A rematch will be interesting no doubt. https://t.co/bYVWhOjKO4— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 6, 2019
A brief reminder that Conor has literally never once in his life defended a title.
It’s fascinating to me watching that loss back. Then watching the come back.
We can always come back!
Anyone can do something once. It’s Can you do it twice is the question. That’s why I doubled up on the belts every time.
Any fool can do it once.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 6, 2019
Unfinished business.
Speak your truth, Derek.
Y’all ever wanted to speak your mind , but decided not to because it might come across as shade . But I know every 185lber is thinking about going up to 205
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 5, 2019
Shade.
Respect.
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MMA Jaden Smith (h/t Jordan Breen)
The ocean’s greatness is about absorbing every drops of water so as the Mountain’s magnificence is about accepting every dust and rocks. Those energy is what makes us strong. pic.twitter.com/vvc9d7mmkw
— Weili Zhang MMA (@MmaWeili) October 29, 2018
Aggressive.
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Phil Davis (19-5) vs. Liam McGeary (13-3); Bellator 220, April 27.
Aleksei Oleinik (57-11-1) vs. Walt Harris (11-7,1 NC); UFC Ottawa, May 4.
Poll
Do you still want to see Jones vs. Rumble?
- 50%
Yes
(205 votes)
- 49%
No
(203 votes)
408 votes total Vote Now
2010: Dominick Cruz won the WEC bantamweight title at WEC 47 when Brian Bowles broke his hand.
Thanks for reading, enjoy the fights, and see y’all tomorrow.
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This article first appeared at MMA Fighting – All Posts
