Tag: Tim Johnson

Scott Coker: Fedor Emelianenko chose Tim Johnson, wanted top-ranked opponent over ‘legend’ fight

The decision for the matchup was specifically made by “The Last Emperor” himself, according to the Bellator president.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – When [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] was announced, the news of the booking was met with a harsh reception.

According to Bellator president Scott Coker, the Oct. 23 main event booked for Moscow, was paired at the choosing of Emelianenko (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) himself. Free agents ranging from Junior Dos Santos, Tito Ortiz, to Jake Hager were on the table, but Emelianenko wasn’t interested in a fight booked on name recognition alone.

Emelianenko wanted someone at the top of the Bellator rankings – and Johnson’s name was on the tip of his tongue. In June, Johnson (15-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) lost a decision to Emelianenko’s underling Valentin Moldavsky – a fight Emelianenko coached his fighter in.

“We started taking these names and Fedor was really thinking about it,” Coker told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “When he came here for the Moldavsky fight, he said to me, ‘If Moldavsky loses, I want to fight Tim Johnson.’ In his mind, I think he already had a focus on somebody that’s ranked – somebody that’s relevant in today’s fighting. Maybe he could’ve got that shot against (Ryan) Bader in that sense, right? He wanted to fight Tim Johnson if he won, but he lost. I think in his mind, he had this fight in his mind.

“He went home and thought about it. We gave him all the names and it was really up to him. To me, he deserves to be able to choose who he wants to be able to fight in his last couple of fights. He’s going to retire after he fights this fight and then he’s got one more and he’s going to retire. To me, he’s the greatest heavyweight of all time. He’s accomplished so much (and) done so much for the sport.”

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While Johnson doesn’t have the all-time status of an Alistair Overeem or Josh Barnett, the Bellator president thinks he’s a very game opponent. With a win over Johnson, Emelianenko could slide himself into position to rematch heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, or whoever holds the title at that time.

“I give him a lot of credit,” Coker said. “Tim Johnson is no joke. He beat Cheick Kongo. He knocked out Tyrell Fortune. (He went) five round with (Valentin) Moldavsky, who is a tough, tough guy. Now, he’s got to go fight Fedor. Fedor didn’t pick the easiest opponent. He could’ve picked somebody much easier – guys that are on losing streaks – or had a legit fight.

“I would’ve loved it because you get to see names, but Fedor wants to fight somebody in that top (tier). I think he still wants to fight for the belt and fight Bader again. That’s really what his goal is. We haven’t had that conversation. I just said, ‘OK, you want to fight Tim Johnson? We’ll have you fight Tim Johnson.’ Then, we’ll take it from there.”

Emelianenko, 44, has not competed since a quick December 2019 win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via punches. He’s 3-1 in his most recent four outings, with the lone loss coming by a 35-second knockout against Bader.

Meanwhile, Johnson competed against Moldavsky for the interim heavyweight title at Bellator 261 in June. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the former UFC fighter.

Bellator Moscow will take place at VTB Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Tim Johnson defends spot as Fedor Emelianenko’s Bellator Moscow opponent: ‘He picked me’

Tim Johnson responded to criticism of him being Fedor Emelianenko’s opponent in his potential retirement bout at Bellator Moscow.

[autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] was as surprised as everyone else when he found out he would be [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag]’s opponent at Bellator Moscow.

Johnson (15-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA), who is coming off an interim title-fight loss to Emelianenko’s (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) pupil Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 261 in June, has seen the negative reaction to the announcement he will be fighting the legendary former PRIDE heavyweight champion on Oct. 23 in Russia, but wants everyone to realize he’s at not fault.

Although it was certainly a fight he was hoping to be considered for, Johnson didn’t think he would actually be the man sharing the cage with Emelianenko. He was pleased to get the news, but the MMA community wasn’t quite as happy, as backlash poured in online from fans and media.

The expectation was Emelianenko would face another legend of the fight game. A Fabricio Werdum rematch was discussed, as was pairings with the likes of Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett or Junior Dos Santos. The fight ended up going to Johnson, and he wants to remind the world that it was Emelianenko who made the majority of the call alongside the Bellator brass.

“I honestly didn’t even think I was going to be in the neighborhood of getting it initially,” Johnson told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I heard the same names everyone else did. … Since the announcement there’s been a lot of people – it’s been not received with open arms, I guess you could say. Well, here it is: Fedor watched me fight for 25 minutes up close and personal (against Moldavsky), the same list everyone was talking about Fedor has in front of him. He had a say in the matchmaking.

“It’s either one of two routes: He picked me because he thinks he can knock me out right away. I don’t want to think that way. I think he picked me because Fedor’s a warrior. He has a warrior mentality. … I’ll bring the fight to him. He’s not going to get a guy who is going in there to just have a name to fight Fedor. He knows he’s going to have a fight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNdEw_G93eA

Regardless of the outside noise, Johnson is grateful and excited to get the opportunity to fight Emelianenko, who many consider to be the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. He knows what this type of fight can mean to his career, and Johnson said he’s already battling himself mentally.

On one hand, Johnson hates the fact he could send Emelianenko into retirement on his home soil, and in potentially devastating fashion. On the other hand, he knows what this win could mean for his resume.

“It’s tough to wrap your head around,” Johnson said. “It’s almost a mental block of, ‘Man, should I go 100 percent? If I beat him everyone is going to be mad at me because they want him to go out with a W.’ But that’s a very quiet voice. I want to go slay the dragon and be known as the last guy to beat him.”

Johnson knows it would be foolish to bring anything but his best into the cage at Bellator Moscow. Even at 44, he said Emelianenko still packs the speed and power to turn it into a very bad night for him.

Because of that, Johnson said he needs to take this fight 100 percent serious, and he will do exactly that.

“This is a status fight,” Johnson said. “Fedor, it’s his last fight – or possible his last fight – I don’t know if it’s confirmed to be his last one. But to be attached to him on his last fight, or maybe his last fight, any heavyweight would take this. I don’t care who it is.

“He’s going to put every ounce of will and everything he has in in his power to win this fight. This is going to be Fedor of 10 years ago. Not Fedor of the last year or two years. He’s going to be retro Fedor. That’s the fight I’m preparing for.”

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Fedor Emelianenko sweepstakes over: Tim Johnson targeted as opponent for Bellator Moscow

“The Last Emperor” has an opponent for his October return.

The [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] sweepstakes is over.

After weeks of speculation as to who will be one of the final career opponents for “The Last Emporer,” a frontrunner emerged. Bellator is finalizing a three-round main event for Emelianenko (39-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA), which will see him battle former UFC fighter [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA).

Bellator Moscow takes place Oct. 23 at VTB Arena in Moscow. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

A person with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. TASS was first to report the fight.

Emelianenko, 44, has not competed since December 2019 when he defeated Quinton Jackson at Bellator 237 via first-round TKO. Although he’s competed just four times since 2017, Emelianenko is 3-1 over that stretch. Prior to a knockout loss to Ryan Bader, “The Last Emporer” advanced through two rounds of the Bellator heavyweight grand prix with finishes over Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir.

Since the June 25 announcement of his return, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous fighters took to social media and interviews to lobby for the matchup. Past opponents Fabricio Werdum and Matt Mitrione both threw their names in the hat, while Bellator heavyweights Josh Barnett and Jake Hager also expressed interested. Additionally, promotion president Scott Coker mentioned free agents Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos as possibilities.

Ultimately, the promotion has zoned in on Johnson, who most recently competed at Bellator 261 in June when he was lost a close unanimous decision to Emelianenko underling Valentin Moldavsky in a five-round interim heavyweight title fight. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the 36-year-old American.

The Oct. 23 bout is expected to be the second-to-last fight of Emelianenko’s career, as he has two fights left on his Bellator contract. The final fight is expected to take place in the United States or Japan, though the situation is still fluid.

With the addition, the Bellator Moscow lineup includes:

  • Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Johnson
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Vitaly Minakov
  • Usman Nurmagomedov vs. TBA

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Bellator 262 faceoff video highlights: Juliana Velasquez, Denise Kielholtz take long look

Neither woman wanted to back down ahead of their flyweight title fight.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday, and the women’s flyweight title will be on the line.

Bellator 262 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill is 125-pound champion [autotag]Juliana Velasquez[/autotag] making her first title defense against [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag].

The co-main event features two friends fighting each other as heavyweights [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] will meet inside the cage.

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 262 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Velasquez vs. Kielholtz, Fortune vs. Mitrione, the return of [autotag]Diana Asvaragova[/autotag], and more.

Bellator 261 results: Valentin Moldavsky claims interim title to set up Ryan Bader unification bout

Valentin Moldavsky became the interim heavyweight champion at Bellator 261 and will fight Ryan Bader next.

[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] is the new Bellator interim heavyweight champion and has guaranteed a position to unify the title with Ryan Bader.

With Bader absent to defend his crown due to his participation in the light heavyweight grand prix, Moldavsky (11-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) picked up the interim strap in Friday’s Bellator 261 headliner when he beat [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) by unanimous decision at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The scores were 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46.

“I thought the fight was going to be a little easier,” Moldavsky said through an interpreter post-fight in his interview with John McCarthy. “It is what it is.”

The fight started out with a bit of a feeling out process, but then Johnson started to pick up the pace and pressure Moldavsky with his combinations. He found solid success backing Moldavsky up and forcing him to exchange, but the Russian was able to absorb the blows throughout the first round and slow Johnson down with some late clinch work.

Moldavsky collected himself well in the second round. He found his range in the striking exchanges with Johnson and was able to land some solid head shots. Johnson stayed in his face and consistently threw back, keeping the bout very competitive through 10 minutes.

The pace slowed down in the opening minutes of the third round, with Moldavsky utilizing the clinch. He broke free at roughly the midway point, and was able to chip away at Johnson from the outside. Moldavsky shot for his first takedown with less than two minutes left, and was able to burn time off the clock with a rear body lock position and get the edge in the round.

With both men starting to show fatigue in the championship rounds, the output slowed with clinch work near the fence. There were moments of exchanges, with Moldavsky having more success due to his speed and strike selection. Johnson received a cut around his right eye that the replay later showed came as the result of a head butt, and he showed some desperation with his late flurries.

With Moldavsky in control going into the final round, he didn’t take much in the way of chances. He stayed on the outside and picked his shots, while also fending off Johnson’s advances every time he got too aggressive. Johnson tired to push until the final bell, screaming at Moldavsky and pushing forward. Moldavsky obliges in some late chaos, but it wasn’t enough for Johnson to get the result-altering moment he needed to take the win and the belt.

With the win, Moldavsky becomes the second fighter from Team Fedor to hold a Bellator strap, joining 205-pound titleholder Vadim Nemkov. He’ll now meet Bader, who delivered a message to the new champion on social media.

Great fight! Moldavsky looked good, fast and his cardio was on point. Tim brought it but would have liked to see him threaten some takedowns. looking forward to coming back to Heavyweight let’s get it!

Complete Bellator 261 results included:

  • Valentin Moldavsky def. Tim Johnson via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) – for interim heavyweight title
  • Liz Carmouche def. Kana Watanabe via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:35
  • Sidney Outlaw def. Myles Jury via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:44
  • Daniel Weichel def. Keoni Diggs via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Christian Edwards def. Simon Biyong via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • John De Jesus def. John Teixeira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Taylor Johnson def. Lance Wright via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:58
  • Jaylon Bates def. Cody Matthews via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 4:04
  • Corey Samuels def. Isaiah Hokit via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:10
  • Soren Bak def. Bobby Lee via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)

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Twitter Mailbag: Stipe Miocic vs. UFC Fight Night 190 main event winner next?

Where will a win put the Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov winner in the UFC heavyweight division?

Questions on your mind about recent happenings in the UFC or sport of MMA in general? MMA Junkie’s Twitter Mailbag is here – and this week, @mma_kings answers:

  • Should the winner of the UFC Fight Night 190 main event between [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] and [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] get [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] next?
  • If [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag] loses to Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Fight Night 190, will he be cut?
  • What’s next for the winner of the Bellator 261 interim heavyweight title fight between [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag]?
  • Should Bellator create a 225-pound division?

Watch the video above for answers to those questions.

To ask a question of your own, follow @MMAjunkie on Twitter and let us know.

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Bellator 261 faceoff video highlights: Co-main event staring contest nearly doesn’t end

Check out the ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs ahead of Bellator 261 at Mohegan Sun.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday, and the promotion is implementing an interim heavyweight title.

Bellator 261 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill are top heavyweight contenders [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA). They will compete for the interim strap in the absence of undisputed champion Ryan Bader, who is partaking in the promotion’s light heavyweight grand prix.

The co-main event features a women’s flyweight fight. Former UFC title challenger [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) faces [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (10-0-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 261 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Johnson vs. Moldavsky, Carmouche vs. Watanabe, [autotag]Keoni Diggs[/autotag] vs. [autotag] Daniel Weichel[/autotag], [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag], and [autotag]Simon Biyong[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag].

Earn, ask, receive: Tim Johnson didn’t ‘overplay the game’ to get what he wanted at Bellator 261

With an interim title fight on the horizon, Tim Johnson still plans to make good on his “gentlemen’s agreement” with Ryan Bader.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Months of public self-advocating will pay off for [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] when he steps inside the cage at Bellator 261.

Atop the rankings of a Bellator heavyweight division that has been largely stagnant for the past year, Johnson (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) topped off a three-fight winning streak with a split decision victory over Cheick Kongo at Bellator Europe 10 last October.

When Bellator relaunched in 2021, the promotion announced the light heavyweight grand prix that included heavyweight champion Ryan Bader competing at 205 pounds. After wins over three contenders, Johnson thought he earned a title shot regardless of whether or not it would be against Bader. Johnson mentioned it every chance he could, through interviews, fight negotiations, and beyond – and it all paid off.

“Just kind of don’t play the overplay the game, I guess,” Johnson told MMA Junkie when asked what advice he’d give fighters advocating for opportunities. “I know everyone thinks they’re going to do the (Conor) McGregor thing. I’ve never been that kind of in-your-face kind of person. … I got something that I think I earned. It wasn’t because of my big following on Instagram or me talking crap on Twitter. I got this opportunity because I earned it.”

In 2018, Johnson departed the UFC and joined Bellator. Friday’s event will mark the first time he has competed for a major promotion’s title, which is the whole reason he elected to switch promotions in the first place. Given the UFC’s landscape at the time, Johnson didn’t think his abilities would be valued as much as someone who talked a good game.

“Right after I signed on, I remember this question, too, like, ‘What made you want to sign?'” Johnson said. “I’m like, ‘I came over because I didn’t want to be just a gatekeeper.’ I had goals and aspirations to reach the top and want to be known as one of the best fighters.”

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If he defeats Valentin Moldavsky (10-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), Johnson plans to wait until undisputed champ Bader moves back up to the heavyweight division. The two have displayed much respect toward each other despite Bader’s hiatus and, according to Johnson, they have a gentleman’s agreement.

“I think it was like two weeks after (my Kongo fight), we were communicating back and forth on social media,” Johnson said. “We made a gentlemen’s agreement, ‘Hey, let’s fight (in) like February. I’m like, ‘All right, let’s do it, you know?’ So it’s nice. It’s just like Moldavsky. We’ve communicated via Instagram back and forth. And it’s respectful, and we’re good sports. I like finding people that have good sportsmanship rather than jerks. It’s just a matter of respect for this competition.”

Bellator 261 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Bellator 261 adds Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky interim title headliner, Jury vs. Outlaw

With champion Ryan Bader competing at 205 pounds, the promotion has implemented an interim strap.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Bellator heavyweight title picture finally has some clarity, and it comes in the form of an interim belt.

Over the past few weeks, Bellator president Scott Coker has teased the implementation of an interim belt with the division’s champion, Ryan Bader, currently competing in the light heavyweight grand prix.

On Friday, promotion officials confirmed to MMA Junkie that Bellator 261 will take place on June 25. [autotag]Tim Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag] will headline the event with the newly-instated interim championship up for grabs at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Johnson (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) is currently on a three-fight winning streak but has not competed since October 2020. After his most recent win, Johnson made it clear he felt he was next in line, a sentiment echoed by the undisputed title holder Bader.

As for Moldavsky (10-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), the Fedor Emelianenko protege has passed every test Bellator has thrown his way. His last three wins have come via unanimous decision against Bellator notables Linton Vassell, Javy Ayala, and most recently, Roy Nelson.

Promotion officials also informed MMA Junkie that a lightweight fight between Bellator-ranked lightweights [autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (19-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) has been added to the card.

Check out the current Bellator 261 lineup below:

  • Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moladvsky – for the interim heavyweight title
  • Myles Jury vs. Sidney Outlaw
  • Kyra Batara vs. Lena Ovchynnikova
  • Isaiah Hokit vs. Aaron Hughes

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Grand prix pulled Ryan Bader away from heavyweight, but he has no plans to vacate title

An interim Bellator heavyweight title? Ryan Bader sees it as a possibility.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] was headed to heavyweight to defend his title. Then the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix happened, and things changed.

One fight removed from losing his 205-pound title to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 244 in August, Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) will return to action Friday at Bellator 256 against Lyoto Machida. It’s not the weight class most people, including Bader, expected he’d compete in next, but Bellator needed him.

“(The plan) was to defend the heavyweight belt,” Bader, who holds the promotion’s heavyweight championship, told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I was going to fight Tim Johnson in potentially March, early March. We were waiting for this whole Showtime deal to go through and all that kind of stuff. That was going on at the same time. Then they came up and asked us if we wanted to do the light heavyweight tournament, the grand prix. (They said) they’d rather us do that.

“We said, ‘Whatever you want us to do. We’d love to enter another grand prix.’ I asked them too, ‘Well, what about the heavyweight belt?’ They were like, ‘We’ll figure that out. Keep it for now. We’ll go forward and see what happens.’ That was kind of how that whole ordeal worked out.”

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Bader has not competed at heavyweight since 2019. His absence has paused divisional flow and left contenders, namely [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 3-2 BMMA), in limbo of whether or not to take another fight.

Despite the division in which he holds a belt being essentially put on hold, Bader doesn’t bear the responsibility for his inactivity. To him, vacating his title shouldn’t be on the promotion’s agenda since Bellator presented him with the grand prix opportunity. Maybe an interim belt is the way to go.

“I’m not giving it up. No. 1, because I fought there,” Bader said. “Bellator came to me and asked me if I wanted to do this tournament. They said I could keep this belt. Maybe an interim belt going (forward)? But that’s up to Tim Johnson. He’s the No. 1 contender. I know we agreed on this fight, and he’s been looking great and (has) three (straight) wins.

“It’s just one of those things. Does he want to fight for an interim belt? Then we can unify it? Or does he want to wait for the actual title shot? That’s always a gamble, too. At the end of the day, I want to be active. Barring any injuries, if I got out there and win this tournament, I’ll be ready a couple of months after those finals. It’s really kind of up to Bellator and up to him.”

Bellator 256 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

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