Johnson ‘rumbles’ on, KO’s Bader in UFC bout
By DAN GELSTON | AP Sports Writer
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Anthony “Rumble” Johnson scaled the octagon and beckoned at the fans to cheer for him even louder.
With a dominant performance behind him, he’s calling for a title fight next.
Johnson pounced on Ryan Bader and finished the light heavyweight bout with a series of ground strikes to win by knockout in the main event of UFC’s Fight Night Jan. 30.
Johnson (21-5) was almost perched atop the fence longer than his actual bout.
Up next is a likely title match by the end of the year.
“I will be waiting for whoever has that belt,” Johnson said.
Johnson was choked out by current division champ Daniel Cormier last May. Jon Jones, who had his title stripped following a string of personal issues, could be on deck for Cormier. UFC said it should have an announcement on a potential bout within days. Jones beat Cormier by unanimous decision in January 2015.
“Jon and I will fight one day,” Johnson said. “I think we definitely want to challenge each other and see what we’re made of.”
Bader (21-5) came right at Johnson, but his offense wouldn’t last long. Johnson sat on Bader’s back and swung away with powerful punches to the back of the head to win the match at 1:26 of the first.
Bader’s attempt at a quick takedown backfired and he was soon getting pummeled with the most potent punches of the night.
“People can say whatever they want to say about me, I always train hard, I always do my best,” Johnson said. “I just want to have fun when I’m out here; I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody.”
Ben Rothwell (36-9) choked out former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett (34-8) in the second round of their heavyweight bout at the Prudential Center.
Both fighters in the heavyweight bout stalled and heard boos in essentially a warm-up round where the lone highlight was Barnett’s jab to Rothwell’s nose that left him bloodied.
Rothwell soon left Barnett in a heap next to the cage.
Rothwell grabbed Barnett out of nowhere by the neck, cinched in the choke and won at 3:48 of the second. Barnett, who beat Randy Couture in 2002 for the heavyweight belt, submitted for the first time in his career.
“My No. 1 priority is laying waste to this entire division,” Rothwell said.
With his fourth straight win, the 265-pound Rothwell may soon be in line for a heavyweight title bout.
“If they stay in my way for a belt, I’m going to crush them,” Rothwell said.
