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Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:29 pm EDT

Johnson destroys Yoshida, any chance he gets KO of the Night?

By Steve Cofield

Can anyone say Thiago Alves? Anthony Johnson's fight against Yoshiyuki Yoshida was eerily similar to Alves win over Matt Hughes at UFC 85. Alves missed weight by four pounds and then ran roughshod over Hughes. Johnson missed in Los Angeles by an unreal six pounds at 176 and then scored a 41 second knockout of Yoshida to open the pay-per-view portion of UFC 104.

In the end, the size probably didn't make that much of a difference but it's a matter of principle. Clearly, Johnson should be leader in the clubhouse for a huge Knockoiut of the Night bonus, but does the UFC want to reward a guy who missed weight so badly? The bonuses will probably be good for at least $60,000.

"I'm sorry to the UFC. I'm sorry to the fans," Johnson told the crowd at Staples Center. "I tried to make weight. The reason I got so heavy was knee injury I suffered training for Matt Brown."

Rumors had it that Johnson started camp at 220 pounds. On Friday morning, he still weighed 180 and was then seen being carried back to the fighter hotel by his manager Ken Pavia just a 80 minutes before the weigh-in.

The 25-year-old Johnson (9-2, 5-2 UFC) has picked up five wins in the UFC, all by pretty devastating knockouts. Believe it or not, the 41 second KO is only the second fastest of Johnson's career. He beat Chad Reiner in 13 seconds. He also took out Tommy Speer in 51 seconds.

Cagewriter hosts the only UFC 104 postfight show from Staples Center starting at 1:30 a.m. ET. Listen here.

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24 Comments

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  1. Zach Scott
    1. Posted by Zach Scott Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    Johnson has the stuff to put a beat down on GSP or any of the other top Welterweights, but unfortunately his issues with cutting weight could put a damper on that actually coming to fruition.
  2. itsthateasy
    2. Posted by itsthateasy Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:09 pm EDT

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    he came in at 220 and dropped nearly 40 lbs injured. either way....he was taking this fight.
  3. Matt Leung
    3. Posted by Matt Leung Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:11 pm EDT

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    well he's really a LHW so that's not fair really
  4. Gee
    4. Posted by Gee Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:47 pm EDT

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    I liked AJ before this fight and I probably still do, I'm just a little upset with him right now. Too me, this is cheating, he looked twice as big as Yoshida. He came in six pounds overweight but I agree with one poster I saw earlier today who suggested these guys need to weigh in the morning of the fights so they don't gain back the twenty or thirty pounds. Nobody should weigh 200 lbs the night of the fight and be fighting at 170 or 185. To me, that is just stupid. But.....Maybe that's just me.
  5. raycal113
    5. Posted by raycal113 Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:12 am EDT

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    That is silly to have guys that naturally weigh 220 fight men that natuarally weigh 170 after they make weight hydrate again.. By the time the fight starts they weigh over 200 pounds..
  6. jojohn1958
    6. Posted by jojohn1958 Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:35 am EDT

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    I like to see him go into late rounds before i call him a serious contender
  7. Isaiah
    7. Posted by Isaiah Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:51 am EDT

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    lol its kinda funny saying its not fair that he cuts alot of weight but [i might be the only one that doesnt know this ] dont most if not all fighters cut weight in every weight devision to be bigger i think it would be crazy to fight in a weight class above your natural weight
  8. infiniachess
    8. Posted by infiniachess Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:52 am EDT

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    that was the saddest excuse of a sanctioned fight ive ever seen.
  9. jayyolf1
    9. Posted by jayyolf1 Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:22 am EDT

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    Yeah he should get KO of the Night..........it was the ONLY KO of the night!!!!! Give him a shot at GSP!!!!!
  10. HeyNow
    10. Posted by HeyNow Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:37 am EDT

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    no way he gets Ko of the night...no respect for the sport or fans coming in over weight. I think it is time the CAC and NAC step in and look at the methods of weight cutting in MMA
  11. PaddyRite
    11. Posted by PaddyRite Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:39 am EDT

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    Yes, it was reported that Rumble was 207 at fight time to Yoshidas 183. That is quite a load of muscle I would say. But you cannot deny Johnsons potential at 170 or 185 he is going to be formidable for anyone
  12. Mark S
    12. Posted by Mark S Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:03 am EDT

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    I wish Yoshida had refused. The weight classes are a joke otherwise - 20 lb difference at the 1st bell? Sad. Let him fight at 185 since he obviously can't make this weight - almost killed himself and came in 6 over? Ridiculous.
  13. jayyolf1
    13. Posted by jayyolf1 Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:03 am EDT

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    Give AJ one more tune up fight and then throw him in there with either GSP or Anderson Silva!!!!!!!!
  14. David
    14. Posted by David Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:42 am EDT

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    Rumble is not even close in deserving a shot at GSP. In my opinion, hes needs to fight at least two of the top five contenders in his division, such as Josh Koschek then Jon Fitch and see what hes really made of. If he is able to survive againt that caliber of fighters then he needs to fight GSP. Only time will tell. I think a badass matchup would be Rumble vs Mike "Quick" Swick. I also think Mike Swick and Dan Hardy need to be the main event in UFC 105 not Coture and Vera. I hope Swick wins via KO no later than 2:00 min in the second round.
  15. Jim
    15. Posted by Jim Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:12 am EDT

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    A 30 lb weight cut is pushing it,very unhealthy,and for people who cant cut that kinda weight(someone who might actually be a better fighter)the scales arent in their favor.That topic should be up for discussion.Fighter safety is paramount.
  16. davisbrosfight
    16. Posted by davisbrosfight Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:22 pm EDT

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    im a big fan of rumble johnson. Have been from the start. There is no way that he is ready for Georges. GSP has the best wrestling and timing of all fighters in the world. The way that AJ sticks his left hand up before he unloads that big right hand would be pretty easy for Georges to pull a single or double leg takedown all night long. Let him have a couple top 5 fights like #15 said before we throw him in there with the man. If GSP is able to get his hands on you and put you on your back, anyone is in for a long night
  17. davisbrosfight
    17. Posted by davisbrosfight Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:22 pm EDT

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    im a big fan of rumble johnson. Have been from the start. There is no way that he is ready for Georges. GSP has the best wrestling and timing of all fighters in the world. The way that AJ sticks his left hand up before he unloads that big right hand would be pretty easy for Georges to pull a single or double leg takedown all night long. Let him have a couple top 5 fights like #15 said before we throw him in there with the man. If GSP is able to get his hands on you and put you on your back, anyone is in for a long night
  18. Doc Martin
    18. Posted by Doc Martin Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:28 pm EDT

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    If a fighter fails to make weight and gets a KO/Sub/FOTN bonus, they should forfeit half of their bonus money to their opponent. Rumble has never had weight issues in the past, so I think people are blowing things out of proportion as far as him not being able to make it. As far as cutting weight, I used to cut 25lbs for wrestling in college and it's no joke. I actually decided after a while to wrestle at my natural weight, but cutting 30lbs was common practice. There is a give and take with cutting weight, so if a person comes in at 200 he might be bigger than his opponent, but he sacrifices energy and explosiveness (you don't get that back the next day). It hurts wrestlers more than fighters because they do it every week for 3-4 months, but it still sucks ass and sometimes the trade-off isn't worth it. They're grown men, and if they can make the weight on weigh ins, then they should be able to fight at whatever weight they come in, that's part of the game. Nobody is keeping anybody from putting on muscle, or taking off body mass so they can cut whatever they want to get to their desired weight class.
  19. JohnC
    19. Posted by JohnC Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:39 pm EDT

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    Raycal113, don't be a dummy. Guys who naturally weigh 170 have the option to drop to 155 and fight. Look at Mike Bisping. He got tired of fighting big LH's and dropped a weight class. Its common sense. Johnson had a good excuse for not dropping weight but if he can't then he'll be forced to move up.
  20. jojohn1958
    20. Posted by jojohn1958 Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    end of day he lost out on bonus of $60 K but got the impresive win which by UFC standars puts him extremely close to a title shot? That's BS in my book! That's why I stop buying the PPV. Not worth the $45 dues!
  21. topgun_iceman33
    21. Posted by topgun_iceman33 Sun Oct 25, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    I'd like to see this guy fight another overweight welterweight...take Thiago Alves for example? Give this guy a shot a GSP? Give me a break make him fight someone worth mentioning before you even think of giving him title contention!
  22. t.medina86
    22. Posted by t.medina86 Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:21 pm EDT

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    Johnson is legitimate, and there is nothing wrong with cutting weight and then coming in 10, 20, or more pounds on fight day! Don't be morons, it's a science! You cut wrong, and you're depleted, do it right and you have the advantage. As long as you can make the weight! I think a couple of more fights with top guys and people will be saying Johnson deserves a title shot! By the way CAN'T F*CKING WAIT TILL DENNIS KANG KTFO'S PISSPING!!
  23. Black Steve-O
    23. Posted by Black Steve-O Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:17 pm EDT

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    Rumble needs to be a middleweight. He could get a few tune-ups and then take on A. Silva! The size difference is bordering on un-sportsmanlike. How explosive would he be if he only cut 35 lbs instead of 50?
  24. m3shmig
    24. Posted by m3shmig Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:43 am EDT

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    1st off- 6 lbs overweight is brutal, nothing wrong with cutting weight- its totally fair, but to come in 6 pounds isn't even close and not fair to the guy who just got hammered. Can't call it a good win, because part of being a good professional is making the weight! No way he should get the money for KO of the night- it doesn't make sense.
    Also, all these guys who don't want to give GSP respect for destroying everyone, and saying he would get KO'd dont have a clue about fighting. Go back to playing your vidiot games and drinking redbull.

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