Johnson p*ssed off at Gustafsson
Anthony Johnson: “You were just an average Joe, just like me, until you fought Jon. You gave Jon a great fight, now the whole world knows who you are.”
Anthony Johnson has been clamoring for a title eliminator bout with Alexander Gustafsson and today explained his point of view to the MMA Hour:
Spurned by the UFC’s decision to pass him over in favor of Daniel Cormier in the title shot pecking order, Gustafsson initially stated his desire to wait and fight the winner of Jones vs. Cormier, regardless of how long it took to play out. He quickly dismissed Johnson’s callout, telling Swedish outlet Expressen that the two fighters “are not in the playground anymore” and Johnson needed to work his way up the ladder.
“To me, that’s what made it personal,” Johnson said. “That’s what made it personal, him saying that. He doesn’t have to be impressed with me, but saying that I need a few more fights to get to him or something like that, in my opinion, dude, nobody knew who you were until you fought Jon. You were just an average Joe, just like me, until you fought Jon. You gave Jon a great fight, now the whole world knows who you are. You’re like an overnight celebrity.
“That’s what happens when you go in there and fight your ass off. But don’t try to belittle me. You didn’t win; don’t make it seem like you’re the champion and you can say those type of things. That kind of got to me, like he’s just the head honcho when he isn’t, he lost to the head honcho.”