UFC
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson released from UFC following UFC 142 loss to Vitor Belfort
Jan 15, 2012 - 3:15:52 PM Anthony "Rumble" Johnson released from UFC following UFC 142 loss to Vitor Belfort

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson entered UFC 142 in Brazil with a chance to make a run in the middleweight division. He left Brazil without a UFC contract.

After telling Fuel TV the organization would "probably" cut Johnson following the loss, UFC President Dana White confirmed his release in an interview with MMAJunkie.com.

Johnson nearly cost the organization the co-main event in their second return to Brazil, missing weight by 12 lbs. and requiring a second, fight-day weigh-in to ensure the fight went on. Johnson made it to a pound and a half from the allowable before doctors made him rehydrate, marking the third time that he had missed weight in his UFC career.

"This is his third time," White said. "Three strikes and you're gone... That was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen. The guy was at 170 pounds. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen anymore, and this is the worst weight-cutting disaster he's ever had. He almost ruined the co-main event here in Brazil. I don't know what else to say about that one. I'm not happy about it."

"The guy was having problems making 170 pounds. He wanted to stay at 170 or whatever his deal was. You go to 185, and you blow it as bad as he blew it? That's bad, man.

White says the decision ultimately came down to the fact that Johnson has had a history of this, but it won't necessarily mean he can't return.

"I don't dislike the guy," White said. "I like him very much actually. When you talk to Anthony Johnson, he's a good guy. I don't know who you blame in this one. Do you blame him? Do you blame his team? Do you blame his camp? I mean who takes the blame in this one? Ultimately, you're a grown man. You're responsible for your own actions."

Penick's Analysis: It's not at all a surprising release, and it's hard to feel any sympathy for Johnson when it's happened time and time again in his UFC career. The fight ended up still going on, so he's not getting booted with the same vitriol had for Nate Marquardt last June, and that ultimately is a good thing for him. If he can get a win or two outside of the organization, and make weight for those fights without having any issues, he might get the call back. For now, he didn't do his job, and then had a poor performance in the cage on top of that, and everyone knew this would be the end result of the situation.