LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Anthony Johnson[/autotag] is training hard and still planning his UFC return, however, he’s yet to complete a crucial step that would allow him to step back in the octagon.
After retiring from the sport following a title-fight loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in April 2017, Johnson (22-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) announced his intentions to return to MMA competition last year. Originally it seemed as though it would happen by now, but “Rumble” still has no fights on the books.
That’s because Johnson has yet to re-enter the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool, where he must submit six months of clean tests before he’s eligible to compete. According to Johnson, his targeted entry date is “probably next month,” which would mean returning no earlier than September.
“Everything is going smooth,” Johnson told MMA Junkie at a recent Dominance MMA media day. “No date set, yet. I just plan on catching a lot of bodies when I come back, that’s all I know. It don’t matter if it’s heavyweight or light heavyweight. I’ll knock ’em all out. It don’t matter.”
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Due to the time off, it will be difficult to tell where Johnson’s skills stand among his peers until he gets back in the cage, especially because he admitted to spending plenty of time away from the gym during his hiatus.
Before Johnson, left, though, he was a top-ranked light heavyweight contender who twice fought for UFC gold. It’s possible he could return at heavyweight, too, which would be remarkable considering he started his UFC run in the welterweight division.
Johnson, 36, has been training hard since declaring his intention to resume fighting. He said he can be a top contender at either division. Marquee names in Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones hold those title, and Johnson would happily take on either of them, should he get himself in position to do so.
“I weigh 230, 235 right now – something like that,” Johnson said. “I’ll fight both. It don’t matter what weight. (Miocic and Jones are) both athletes, they’re both champions, they’re both great fighters. The best ever in both weight classes. So, I’ll be glad to take the opportunity to fight both of them, no matter what.”
At the time of his retirement, Johnson seemed at peace with his decision to walk away. As is commonplace in the sport, though, athletes often struggle to stay away forever. Johnson got lured back, and he said it’s because he still has more to give.
“When you feel like you’ve still got it, or you still feel like you have something to prove, you’re willing to go out there and sacrifice your life pretty much to go out there and prove it,” Johnson said. “Not just to everybody else, but to yourself.”