Former UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson MMA retired in 2017, but has been in training and was expected to return to the Octagon shortly. However, Johnson, 36, recently announced that by mutual agreement, he had signed with Bellator MMA. There was wild speculation that it must have been due to a USADA test
During a recent interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, UFC president Dana White was asked why Rumble was released.
He was under contract with us. I would have loved to have seen him compete here. Ummm, I dunno … use your imagination,” said White enigmatically. “I have a great relationship with him. I love the kid. … It was probably in his best interests. … Ask him, If he wants to talk about it, that’s his business, not mine.
“Rumble” talked about it with Nolan King for MMA Junkie. His company, Rumbletime Consultants, Inc., is in the cannabis business. And given the UFC restrictions on sponsorships, Bellator will makes him dollars, so it makes sense.
This had already happened about a month before it came out. I was keeping my mouth closed, explained Johnson. There was no animosity, nothing bad when the UFC and I split. It was honestly a mutual thing. There was no bad blood, no negativity, no anything. It was best for both of us.
Business-wise, it’s just smart for me. I’m going into a different field outside of MMA. It gives me a little bit more leeway to do a little bit more. Honestly, with the UFC like that, you probably can’t really do a lot of things that you’d want to do because they’re such a strict company. When you have rules, you have to follow them, man. I’m not trying to break any rules, so why not just do our thing, show each other love and respect, and it is what it is?
I think I’m going to do the same thing, Johnson said. I’ll be able to help push Bellator and my own business at the same magnitude and just go forward. With the UFC, they already have a strategy on how they want to do things. Everybody knows that. You have to respect it, though. I respect them. They respect me. Why not just do our own thing and everybody goes home happy?
Separating from the UFC was a little tough because that’s been my home for so long. I built up who I am fighting in the UFC and knocking people out in the UFC. It’s had a lot of meaning to me to be a UFC fighter. But that journey has passed now, and now I’m on to a new journey. I’m looking forward to knocking people out in Bellator just as much.
