UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Misses Weight, Loses To Vitor Belfort, Gets Cut From The UFC

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JANUARY 13: Anthony Johnson weighs in during the UFC 142 Weigh In at HSBC Arena on January 13, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Middleweight Anthony Johnson missed weight for his UFC 142 bout with Vitor Belfort, lost the bout and got cut by the organization. It was a bad 24 hours for Johnson.

Jan 15, 2012 - Friday morning, one day before UFC 142 Anthony Johnson woke up feeling great. Just a few pounds over the 185 pound limit for his middleweight bout with Vitor Belfort, Johnson anticipated no problem cutting weight for the fight. Then everything went wrong.

UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort submits Anthony Johnson by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:49 of round 1.

After a few hours of cutting weight and getting to within a pound and one-half of the limit, Johnson's leg went numb and his alarmed team called in the UFC's doctor for consultation. The doctor ordered Johnson to be rehydrated by IV and dashed any hopes he had of making weight for the fight.

Pre-Fight Interview With 'Hungry' Anthony Johnson

UFC president Dana White was not happy and made his displeasure with Johnson clear in his second video blog for UFC 142. Johnson's opponent Vitor Belfort was not happy and made his displeasure clear pre-fight.

Then come fight time Johnson seemingly had to battle both Belfort and referee Dan Miragliotta who kept standing the fight back up pretty quickly every time Johnson succeeded in forcing the fight to the ground. Belfort didn't need much help as he stunned Johnson with a knee to the face and followed up with a rear naked choke for the finish.

"A loss is a loss. My legs just got really tired. I didn't get beat up in there and he really didn't hurt me with what he hit me with. I just got tired. I've got to figure this thing out," Johnson said after the fight.

The ordeal wasn't over for Johnson after losing the fight either.

UFC president Dana White wasted little time in cutting Johnson from the promotion. "This is his third time (to miss weight for a UFC bout)," White said. "Three strikes and you're gone."

"That was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen," White said. "The guy was at 170 pounds. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen anymore, and this is the worst weightcutting disaster he's ever had. He almost ruined the co-main event here in Brazil. I don't know what else to say about that one. I'm not happy about it."

For Johnson, it's going to be a long re-think of his mixed martial arts career and it will happen outside the bound of the sport's biggest promotion.

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Comments

Well I guess we found Nates next opponent.

"All hail the Flyers" Jim Jackson.

by darkside3744 on Jan 15, 2012 9:33 AM PST reply actions

yeah Marquardt vs Johnson

might make a nice superfight for Bellator and both would be legit contenders for Hector Lombard’s title. we’ll see if Marquardt tries to stay at welterweight. Johnson might have to move up to 205 anyway if his kidneys are saying “no more weight cuts”

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 15, 2012 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

I like Dana White and he has worked wonders for the sport of MMA

but White has too much power. Dana controls these fighters life and is a little too harsh sometimes. Rumble is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. I can understand if the kid likes to party more than he likes to train. The doctors told him to stop or he would have made weight. I wish Rumble the best because some other organzation will get a hell of a fighter.

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Jan 15, 2012 3:33 PM PST reply actions

He likes to party more than he likes to train? He has tried to fight at too low a weight class for far too long and he has probably fucked up his long term health because of it.

Proud veteran of the elite unstoppable predictions juggernaut known as the K1 Level Predictions Team (2011-2011)

by StevenGiles on Jan 15, 2012 6:15 PM PST up reply actions