Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) released a heartfelt tribute video to the late Anthony Johnson earlier today (Sat., Nov. 19, 2022) during the broadcast of UFC Vegas 65 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Johnson, who is widely regarded as one of the best knockout artists in UFC history, unexpectedly passed away last Sunday after a battle with a cancer known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, an auto-immune disease. Johnson reportedly dealt with organ failure due to his long-standing illnesses. The mixed martial arts (MMA) community has understandably found it difficult to deal with the passing of Johnson, especially considering he was just 38 years old.
On Saturday, UFC released an emotional tribute video for “Rumble” during the broadcast of UFC Vegas 65. The video was well put together, including some of the biggest Octagon moments in the career of Johnson.
Johnson, who parted ways with UFC back in 2017, returned to competitive MMA in 2021 as a member of the Bellator MMA roster. “Rumble” ended up defeating Jose Augusto Azevedo at Bellator 258 via second-round knockout.
Should do it on a ppv, pay tribute when you got a large audience watching.
I Bet They Will
I still remember him starching that white dude at welterweight. Then kicking Dan Hardy’s ass. Then he knocked arlovskis teeth out at heavyweight. Then he knocked glovers tooth out his fukn head in 13 seconds at light heavyweight. I don’t think there has been a better carrier of power up in weight than Rumble. I know he had a few personal problems with his spouse but as a fighter, fuck fighting that guy.
Oh and the screen shots of Him scaring Paulie M when he tried to break up the scuffle still makes me laugh every time I think about it.
Tells you a lot about the respect he had in the locker room when the ufc pays you tribute when you were signed to another league.
Absolutely