Former UFC light heavyweight title contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will be making his long-awaited return to MMA with Bellator MMA.
Johnson has made noise about returning to the sport during his three-year absence, though many assumed he would slot back into the UFC fold. However, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani revealed it’s Bellator MMA who is adding the heavy-handed light heavyweight to their roster.
Now aged 36-years-old, Johnson hasn’t competed since tasting defeat in his second crack at the UFC light heavyweight championship against Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in April, 2017. Rumble announced his retirement from the sport after his losing effort.
At present, it’s unclear what division Johnson will be fighting in upon his return.
Rumble was a welterweight for a long period before moving up to middleweight and then light heavyweight. However, when he said he was looking to return to mixed martial arts in October, 2019, Johnson said he was looking to compete as heavyweight.
Regardless of what division he fights in, Johnson is a big addition to the Bellator MMA roster.