Anthony Johnson outlines terms for UFC return

Light heavyweight knockout artist Anthony Johnson has not fought since April of 2017, when he came up short in his second title fight with Daniel Cormier, but fans are still clamoring for him to return to the cage.

While Anthony Johnson is ostensibly retired from competition, however, he’s never denied that he could be coaxed back to the Octagon under the right terms.

Speaking to Luke Thomas on MMA on SiriusXM, the fan favorite knockout artist detailed what it will take for him to make a comeback.

First, he says, the UFC will need to allow him to fight in the heavyweight division. Secondly, the money has got to be right.

“If the price is right, anything can happen,” Johnson said when asked about a possible return to the UFC’s Octagon (transcript via Bloody Elbow). “He [UFC President Dana White] knows that when the time is right, we’ll talk about it. But right now, the time just isn’t right. There’s no point.

“If I’m gonna do it I wanna do it at heavyweight,” Johnson continued. “Everybody can eat, be fat, and happy and go out there and slug it out and see what happens.”

Though he spent the majority of his career fighting in the light heavyweight division, and shockingly, the 170-pound welterweight division, Anthony Johnson has fought in the heavyweight division previously, defeating former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski by decision under the World Series of Fighting banner.

Johnson recently partnered with rising bare knuckle promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), but clarified that he will not be fighting sans gloves for the promotion. He’s merely signed on in a “fighter relations” role.

Do you think we’ll ever see Anthony Johnson back in the cage?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/6/2019.