UFC 142
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After missing weight, UFC 142's Anthony Johnson faces fine, fight-day weigh-in
RIO DE JANEIRO – Anthony Johnson today grossly missed the middleweight mark required for his co-main event bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142.
Prior to the start of weigh-ins, UFC president Dana White said Johnson would "badly" miss weight.
Moments later, when he officially weighed 197 pounds, officials announced Johnson has been fined 20 percent of his "show" money (which goes to Belfort), and after rehydrating, he can weigh no more than 205 pounds on fight day.
Today's official weigh-ins took place today at HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, the same venue that hosts Saturday's pay-per-view event and Johnson vs. Belfort co-headliner. They aired on FUEL TV and streamed online.
Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who weighed in at 186 pounds, stipulated he'll only take the fight if Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is no heavier than 205 pounds for the bout.
It's a shocking turn for Johnson, whose repeated issues making the 170-pound limit required of welterweights prompted calls he move up in weight. UFC 142 is his first fight at middleweight, though today's gaffe marks the third time he has missed weight during his UFC career.
Johnson was fined a portion of his purse for missing weight by five pounds prior to a fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104. He was reportedly so weak that he had to be carried to and from the weigh-ins.
In the lead-up to UFC 142, Johnson repeatedly spoke about how much better he felt as a middleweight. As recently as this past week, he said he was at 215 pounds. Clearly, something went drastically wrong during his weight cut.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Anthony Johnson today grossly missed the middleweight mark required for his co-main event bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 142.
Prior to the start of weigh-ins, UFC president Dana White said Johnson would "badly" miss weight.
Moments later, when he officially weighed 197 pounds, officials announced Johnson has been fined 20 percent of his "show" money (which goes to Belfort), and after rehydrating, he can weigh no more than 205 pounds on fight day.
Today's official weigh-ins took place today at HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, the same venue that hosts Saturday's pay-per-view event and Johnson vs. Belfort co-headliner. They aired on FUEL TV and streamed online.
Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who weighed in at 186 pounds, stipulated he'll only take the fight if Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is no heavier than 205 pounds for the bout.
It's a shocking turn for Johnson, whose repeated issues making the 170-pound limit required of welterweights prompted calls he move up in weight. UFC 142 is his first fight at middleweight, though today's gaffe marks the third time he has missed weight during his UFC career.
Johnson was fined a portion of his purse for missing weight by five pounds prior to a fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104. He was reportedly so weak that he had to be carried to and from the weigh-ins.
In the lead-up to UFC 142, Johnson repeatedly spoke about how much better he felt as a middleweight. As recently as this past week, he said he was at 215 pounds. Clearly, something went drastically wrong during his weight cut.
Anthony Johnson weighs 204.2 pounds, UFC 142 co-main event is on
RIO DE JANEIRO – Anthony Johnson made weight when it mattered most.
After he came in heavy and weighed 197 pounds for a 185-pound bout with Vitor Belfort at Friday's official UFC 142 fighter weigh-ins, Johnson was told he could weigh no more than 205 pounds after rehydrating.
After a UFC-mandated second weigh-in on event day, he today weighed 204.2 pounds.
Therefore, his fight with Belfort is good to go for tonight's pay-per-view event, which takes place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. However, Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) still must surrender 20 percent of his purse as a fine, which will be issued to Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-4 UFC).
As UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following Friday's weigh-ins, Johnson got as light as 187.5 pounds on the morning of weigh-ins before doctors told him he had to take in fluids. Johnson's reps said he fell ill on the morning of weigh-ins, though White maintains he simply missed weight.
"Complete and absolute unprofessionalism – that's what happened," White said. "There's no other way it can be explained."
Johnson's struggles were especially surprising considering he actually moved up a weight class after twice missing weight at welterweight. UFC 142 marks his middleweight debut, though he weighed 197 pounds (11 pounds over the 186-pound cutoff) at official weigh-ins. The fighter said he weighed 215 pounds as recently as a week and a half ago.
White told MMAjunkie.com that Johnson's contract could be in jeopardy regardless of tonight's outcome.
"His job is on the line," White said. "His job is absolutely on the line, win or lose."
RIO DE JANEIRO – Anthony Johnson made weight when it mattered most.
After he came in heavy and weighed 197 pounds for a 185-pound bout with Vitor Belfort at Friday's official UFC 142 fighter weigh-ins, Johnson was told he could weigh no more than 205 pounds after rehydrating.
After a UFC-mandated second weigh-in on event day, he today weighed 204.2 pounds.
Therefore, his fight with Belfort is good to go for tonight's pay-per-view event, which takes place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. However, Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) still must surrender 20 percent of his purse as a fine, which will be issued to Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-4 UFC).
As UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following Friday's weigh-ins, Johnson got as light as 187.5 pounds on the morning of weigh-ins before doctors told him he had to take in fluids. Johnson's reps said he fell ill on the morning of weigh-ins, though White maintains he simply missed weight.
"Complete and absolute unprofessionalism – that's what happened," White said. "There's no other way it can be explained."
Johnson's struggles were especially surprising considering he actually moved up a weight class after twice missing weight at welterweight. UFC 142 marks his middleweight debut, though he weighed 197 pounds (11 pounds over the 186-pound cutoff) at official weigh-ins. The fighter said he weighed 215 pounds as recently as a week and a half ago.
White told MMAjunkie.com that Johnson's contract could be in jeopardy regardless of tonight's outcome.
"His job is on the line," White said. "His job is absolutely on the line, win or lose."
