Anthony Johnson Plans On ‘Whooping Some Ass’ At UFC 187
Noted knockout artist Anthony Johnson will get a chance at title glory at UFC 187, as he prepares to face former Strikeforce GP winner Daniel Cormier in the main event. We all know the story with Jon Jones by now, the former champion was stripped and sidelined by the UFC, and AJ vs DC is now for the vacant strap.
Looking to extend his impressive win streak to 10, “Rumble” hasn’t tasted defeat for nearly three years now. He faces, in Cormier, a man who has only lost once in his MMA career, and to the former champion “Bones” at that. With May 23rd fast approaching, the anticipation grows at the thought of a new champ.
The media spotlight? Firmly fixed on Jones still. Speaking with MMAJunkie.com, “Rumble” says he feels bad for Jones in the wake of his latest saga:
“I feel bad for Jon and Jon’s family, and I feel bad for the MMA community. He let everybody down, but nobody’s perfect. Life goes on, and I still have a great opportunity. Daniel has a great opportunity. Hopefully Jon gets his stuff together and everything works out for him and he comes back, and that just makes this division even more exciting.”
As far as the fight itself goes, Johnson maintains that his gameplan hasn’t really changed, even in the face of such a height difference between Jones and Cormier.
“I just have to adjust some things from 6-foot-3 and above to 6-foot and under. But the gameplan is the same. I’m still going in there trying to kick some ass. The gameplan is to whoop some ass.”
“I was disappointed, but I was never mad,” Johnson said. “It sucks that I don’t get to fight John, but eventually, one day I’ll have a chance to fight him. I’m just focused on getting ready.”
It’s crazy to think that just a few years back AJ had legal issues of his own, including a domestic assault charge. Fighting at welterweight and missing weight regularly meant that Johnson was also not in good standing with his employers.
Now free and clear of those hassles, Johnson looks to replace the man who is now essentially his polar opposite; a young at heart ex-champion with too much temptation in his life. Do you think “Rumble” will be able to knock Cormier out, or will DC make the wrestling advantage count?
