Anthony "Rumble" Johnson's move to the middleweight division has not gotten off to a good start, as the former welterweight standout failed to make weight for Saturday's UFC 142 co-main event bout against Vitor Belfort, an announcement made Friday afternoon by UFC President Dana White.
Johnson clocked in at 197 pounds, 11 pounds over the allowed 186-pound non-title limit for middleweight bouts.
The bout is still expected to go on as scheduled, with Belfort receiving 20% of Johnson's purse and Johnson not allowed to weigh more than 205 pounds at a second weigh-in on Saturday. (UPDATE - Johnson made weight on Saturday at 204.2 pounds - the fight is on)
"As a fighter, you are a professional," said White. "You are contracted to come in at a certain weight. This is not the first time this has happened with Johnson. He moved up to 185 pounds so this wouldn't happen, and here we are in the same position again."
Johnson failed to make weight on two occasions during his stint at welterweight, but apparently his struggles with the scale are not over.
"Vitor was bummed out and he feels the same way I do," said White. "Vitor Belfort has to cut this weight too and he's older than "Rumble" Johnson is. He came in, like a professional, on weight, and Anthony Johnson comes in totally unprofessional and way overweight."
Fans voices come first
Favorite athlete? Fantasy match-ups? Comments? Leave 'em here!
