One of the UFC's hardest-hitting knockout artists of the past decade is one step closer to coming out of retirement.

Former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson will re-enter the UFC's mandatory drug testing program this week, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN on Monday. Johnson, 36, withdrew himself from the testing pool in 2017 when he announced his retirement. He will have to make himself available for testing for six months before he is eligible to fight.

Abdelaziz also told ESPN that Johnson intends to compete in the 205-pound light heavyweight division. Johnson had previously stated he was considering a return at heavyweight.

February 9, 2021. Bellator’s 8-man light heavyweight grand prix will begin on April 9th at UFC 256. A first round matchup between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Yoel Romero has been booked for Bellator 257. Romero is still the slight betting favorite to beat Rumble at -120 to -110 as of February 9th. Anthony Johnson Highlights 2015 'Rumble'. Unsubscribe from Dream Eskimo? Subscribed Unsubscribe.

Fighting out of South Florida, Johnson (22-6) retired in April 2017 immediately after coming up short in a UFC title fight against then-champion Daniel Cormier.

The timing of his decision to formally re-enter the testing program is ironic in multiple ways. Cormier, who beat Johnson twice in UFC title fights, announced his retirement on Monday. And Jon Jones, who Johnson was scheduled to fight in 2015 until he was forced to pull out due to legal issues, announced he was vacating the 205-pound title on Monday.

Johnson has expressed interest in finally facing Jones at some point. If that does indeed happen, it appears it will take place either at heavyweight or not for the light heavyweight championship, at least if it happens any time soon.

Johnson made his debut with the UFC in 2007 as a welterweight and fought exclusively in the Octagon until 2012. The UFC released Johnson in 2012, before re-signing him in 2014. After reuniting with the UFC, Johnson won six of his next seven contests, including four by first-round knockout. His only kryptonite at light heavyweight proved to be Cormier, whom he lost to in 2015 and 2017.

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Fighter Details

• Given Name:Anthony Kewoa Johnson
• Pro MMA Record:22-6-0 (Win-Loss-Draw)
• Nickname:Rumble
• Current Streak:1 Loss
• Age:37 Date of Birth:1984.03.06
• Last Fight:April 08, 2017inUFC
• Weight Class:Light Heavyweight Last Weigh-In:203.8 lbs
• Affiliation:Sanford MMA
• Height:6'2' (188cm) Reach:78.0' (198cm)
• Career Disclosed Earnings:$1,797,000 USD
• Born:Dublin, Georgia, United States
• Fighting out of:Boca Raton, Florida
• Fighter Links:
  
• Personal Links:
  

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Wiki

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is one of the UFC’s most promising young fighters. Perhaps the largest man ever to fight in the welterweight (170 lb.) division, Johnson is reputed to cut approximately 40 lbs. in order to make weight, and indeed, missed the cut in his fight against Yoshiyuki Yoshida by a full six pounds. As a result, Johnson has considered a permanent move to the middleweight division.

Johnson made an immediate impact upon his entrance to the UFC, knocking out opponent Chad Reiner at Ultimate Fight Night 10 in only 13 seconds. He also boasts highlight reel-worthy knockouts over Tommy Speer, as well as Kevin Burns in a rematch after an inadvertent eye poke ended their first encounter prematurely.

Johnson’s strength at this point in his career is his standup striking, particularly in the first minutes of a fight, as well as the extraordinary size advantage conferred on him by his unusual ability to cut so much weight. Despite a disappointing loss to Josh Koscheck in a high profile fight that would have put him in line to challenge for the title, Johnson looks to contend for a championship as soon as he puts a solid string of victories together. In March, 2011, Johnson notched the biggest victory of his career to-date when he controlled Dan Hardy en route to a comfortable Unanimous Decision. He would pick up another win over Charlie Brenneman before losing to Vitor Belfort and subsequently get cut from the UFC.

Since leaving the UFC Johnson continued fighting and racked up a 6 fight win streak including wins over DJ Linderman and Andrei Arlovski for the World Series of Fighting promotion. His next victim turned out to be veteran fighter Mike Kyle, whom Johnson knocked out in barely over 2 minutes at WSOF 8. With the exception of the Arlovski fight that was at heavyweight the rest of the bouts were at Johnson's new weight class of light heavyweight. The UFC took notice of his streak and he is now set to return to the octagon against Phil Davis at UFC 172.
After besting Phil Davis at UFC 172 via unanimous decision, 'Rumble' was set to face former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in 'The Mauler's' hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. Johnson emerged victorious from the bout, stopping Gustafsson with strikes in the very first round. Johnson is now the undisputed number one contender of the UFC's light heavyweight division, and will fight champion Jon Jones at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, on 23 May, UFC 187.

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