‘At Death’s Door’- Anthony Johnson Describes Dropping 40 Pounds To Fight as a Welterweight

Anthony Johnson was one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC a few years ago. He looked destined to become Light Heavyweight Champion and many thought he would beat Jon Jones. However, Jones pulled out of the fight, and ‘Rumble’would lose to Daniel Cormier for the title.

However, his journey started years ago as an oversized Welterweight. He struggled to make weight when he was a 170-pounder and has opened up on how he made that weight and whether he regrets fighting after cutting 40 pounds.

READ MORE: Anthony Johnson Says ‘Jon Jones Was the Reason’ For Important UFC Decision

“A lot of prayer and a lot of cardio. Half the time I didn’t make it, other half I did. Even when I did make it, I felt like I was at death’s door. At the steps of death to croak. But I’m glad I didn’t take any serious damage while cutting weight because I was dropping from 210 to 170. Which is 40 pounds and most people can’t do 10. For me to do that, I was having the mentality of bigger, stronger, faster. I know how that was a big thing back in the day. I don’t regret it, I wouldn’t take back the losses at 170. Not making weight and all that. I wouldn’t be who I was today if I hadn’t made those mistakes.”

Anthony Johnson: Was the weight cut a bad idea?

Rumble Johnson had a sound logic behind cutting weight. It’s the same reason why Max Holloway cuts to 145 and why Conor McGregor also cut to that weight. The bigger a fighter is, the more pronounced their advantage in a fight.

However, it didn’t work out like that for Rumble. While he was phenomenal, the weight cut wasn’t worth the results. He would move up to 185 pounds but would still miss weight at that division. It seemed like 205 would be his home, but he had an unexpected early retirement which then saw him become over 300 pounds.

He was supposed to return for the UFC, but the pandemic ruined those plans. He was recently released and is now expected to fight Yoel Romero in Bellator for his promotional debut in his weight division of 205.