White: Johnson can ‘never’ miss weight again
Anthony Johnson, who had previously been released by the UFC for missing weight, will be under a strict ‘must make weight’ clause or will risk a lifetime ban.
During his first run in the UFC, Anthony Johnson was plagued with weight cutting issues, missing the limit in several bouts at welterweight and once at middleweight.
Johnson now competes in the light heavyweight division and should he miss that mark, ever, he will be banned from the UFC for life:
Anthony Johnson has already been cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ranks once before for missing weight, but if he comes in heavy one more time, he will be banned for life.
That’s according to UFC President Dana White (via FOX Sports Marc Raimondi), who told reporters during today’s (April 26, 2014) Ultimate Media Day from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, that if “Rumble” misses weight for this weekend’s (April 26, 2014) UFC 172 light heavyweight fight against Phil Davis, he will be cut and not be welcomed back.
Johnson himself recently told ESPN that he has his weight issues under control and will never again fight in a division lower than light heavyweight:
If anybody brings up 186 pounds to me, I look at them cross-eyed, Johnson said. Honestly, I start feeling sick when I get to 204 pounds. My body won’t allow it. It’s most likely a mental thing but I don’t even want to think about it.