Anthony "Rumble" Johnson: The Future of The UFC

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s emerging welterweight contender is quickly becoming one of mixed martial arts’ biggest and brightest stars.

Johnson, a Dublin, Georgia product, is a crowd pleasing fighter who is incapable of partaking in a boring fight, as he hasn’t let a fight go to the judge’s score cards in over three years. In mixed martial arts, it is important to be entertaining, but it is more important to win, something Johnson is very familiar with. Johnson has began his career on a high note, amassing eight wins (five of which coming inside the Octagon). With top-notch collegiate-level wrestling credentials and lightning-quick knockout power in both hands, “Rumble” is a wrecking ball on a non-stop collision course to the top of the 170 pound division inside the Octagon.

Being a former wrestling national champion at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level at Lassen Community College, Johnson is no slouch when it comes to grappling, in fact Johnson began wrestling when he was only eight years old. Proficient in take-downs and take-down defence, Johnson is an accomplished wrestler who is just as dangerous on his feet or in his opponent’s guard. Although Johnson will likely utilize his wrestling skills to defend his opponent’s take-down attempts, he is a practised wrestler who can dominate on the ground with his heavy hands and extensive wrestling pedigree.

Due to his extensive resume of heart stopping knock-outs, it is a widely known fact that Johnson is among the best kick-boxers in the UFC. With knock-out or technical knock-out victories in five of his last seven fights, Johnson presents an intimidating task for his opponents in trying to out-strike a world-class fighter.

 If a fighter is to try to stand and trade with Johnson, they will be in for a short night of work and likely end up as a victim on the next edition of ‘Ultimate Knock-Outs’. Johnson has made a habit of finishing fights quickly, just ask Jonathan Romero, Chad Reiner, Tommy Speer, Luigi Fioravanti, or Yoshiyuki Yoshida, five of Johnson’s opponents who have failed to reach the second round.