It feels like 2015 all over again… Jon Jones is up for a showdown with Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson…
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is expected to come back in early 2020. The former light-heavyweight contender declared his intentions to return, but this time in the heavyweight division. Johnson previously fought at heavyweight under the Strikeforce banner, knocking out Andrei Arlovski.
His UFC run has been a bizarre story. He’s fought as low as the welterweight division, before rising through the weight classes up to 205lbs. ‘Rumble’ contested the belt twice, losing both times to Daniel Cormier. However, he established a well-deserved reputation as a feared power puncher. When his fists connect with your skull, you’re going to sleep.
Since rediscovering his hunger for the octagon, Johnson has called out a number of fighters. Jon Jones is the most recent name on his list. He says that a fight with Jones would tempt him back down to 205lbs once again. Now ‘Bones’ has come back with a stark warning for the big man.
You better make sure you have that cardio together big fella @Anthony_Rumble
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 15, 2019
Let’ Fight
‘Rumble’ told Brendan Schaub that if he can get down to light-heavyweight, he’s willing to fight Jones. The two were booked to fight before, but the fight was scrapped after Jones drove into a pregnant woman. That would do it alright. However, Johnson is still open to fighting for the title again. How generous of him. Still, this is a fight that would definitely get fans excited.
“We’ll make it happen if I get low enough,” Johnson said. “We’ll fight at 205. That’s a fight I wanted. I think Jon wanted that fight too, before everything happened. That situation, which, it’s over with, it’s in the past. When we see each other there’s no animosity between each other. We show each other love, you know what I mean? But that was a fight, that’s why I went up to 205, man.”
Choke Out
Jones is prolific on social media. He came across Johnson’s interview and has since responded. Needless to say, he’s bullish about his chances against the hard-hitter. Jones is short of genuine challengers at 205lbs, so the return of Johnson would definitely interest him. He tweeted the following:
“You better make sure to have that cardio together big fellow @Anthony_Rumble.
“We’ve always been cool but I’ll be more than happy to choke you out if that’s what you’re looking for @Anthony_Rumble.”
Power Puncher
‘Rumble’ is also interested in fighting Francis Ngannou in the near future. This would be a clash of two massive power punchers that would guarantee carnage. However, Johnson only wants this fight if one of them is the champion. He believes that it will be incredibly exciting. We agree.
“I think the scariest guy in the division for them is Francis. The scariest, not the best but the scariest,” Johnson said.
“I think him and I will meet eventually but most people just want the fight,” he continued. “To me and hopefully to Francis, it has to happen at the right time,” Johnson explained. “Not just a fight happen, just to get everybody else’s rocks off. If I fight Francis, I want it to be for something serious. Not just a fight, a main event fight. Let us fight for the title, that way it really counts. Not just getting everybody else’s rocks off and just beating each other up for no reason.”
