Johnson manager says formal complaint to be filed this week
Anthony Johnson manager: “Anthony’s rights were violated. We will go through the proper legal channels to fix this.
UFC light heavyweight Daniel Cormier used an ancient wrestling trick to make weight at UFC 210. Cormier denied having placed his hands on the towel, seemingly for modesty but actually to lessen the weight. Cormier denied even being aware such a ruse existed. Under New York rules Cormier had two hours to make weight, but if he had not, Johnson would have been due 20% of DC’s purse.
Now Johnson’s manager Ali Abdelaziz says the camp will file a formal protest this week.
“Anthony’s rights were violated,” said Abdelaziz to Brett Okamoto for ESPN. “We will go through the proper legal channels to fix this. Everybody saw what happened. How do you lose 1.2 pounds in two minutes?”
“We don’t want to take anything away from [Cormier]. He earned that win. But [Cormier] needs to give up 20 percent of his purse to Anthony. He had two extra hours to cut the weight and I think he probably would have made it — but as it happened, I don’t think he made weight.”
“I understand New York is new to regulating mixed martial arts, but they’ve been doing boxing for a long time. Everybody is trying to sweep this under the rug, but it’s not going to happen.”
The manager was asked if Johnson’s camp was considering a lawsuit.
“Whatever it takes,” he replied.