Rumble: I don’t want DC stripped of title, appeal is not about $
Anthony Johnson: “First and foremost I never said I wanted D.C. stripped of the title … this definitely isn’t about money, that’s for damn sure.”
UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is widely believed to have hoodwinked the New York State Athletic Commission at the UFC 210 weigh-ins, by gently pushing down on a towel draped in front of him. Cormier won via tapout and Johnson retired, reportedly to take a non-playing position with an NFL team. Now Johnson has filed a formal appeal with NYSAC asking that Cormier be compelled to explain under oath what happened at the weigh-ins.
After such sworn testimony, if Mr. Cormier could not, would not, or did not satisfactorily provide an evidence and fact-based explanation for his conduct, then he should be disciplined for his action by the NYSAC to preserve the integrity of the sport,” reads the appeal. “Should Mr. Cormier be subject to discipline, while it is clear he could be suspended for his actions, at a minimum, Daniel Cormier should be ordered to pay 20% of his fight purse to Anthony Johnson and should be stripped of his UFC Men’s Light Heavyweight Title for failing to make weight on April 8, 2017.
A number of articles reported the news, and Johnson posted a reply on his social network.
“First and foremost I never said I wanted D.C. stripped of the title,” wrote Johnson. “He beat me and that’s that… 2nd I said everything would be handled after the fight because I was focused on the fight. Weigh-ins was messed up and at the end of the day it was wrong. If I lose fans because I’m fighting for what’s right then so be it. If it happen to me, it can happen to anybody. The world made all of this noise about it and when an appeal is made the world will cry about the appeal. That makes zero sense!
“Weigh-ins was messed up and the fight wasn’t because he beat me. I’m not complaining about the loss, I’m complaining about the weigh-ins. D.C. shouldn’t be stripped at all but for sure answer to the weigh-in situation.
“If you hate me you hate that’s what you have to deal with. If you love me then I love you back… Btw this definitely isn’t about money, that’s for damn sure. It’s the principle of the situation for you knuckleheads that have no brain.”