Johnson Grateful for Small Companies
By BOB EMANUEL JR. | Scripps Howard News Service
Anthony Johnson received his big break early in his career. Fresh off an unsuccessful tryout for “The Ultimate Fighter,” Johnson impressed Ultimate Fighting Championship’s management enough that Johnson was selected as an injury replacement to fight Chad Reiner in 2007.
Johnson did not squander the chance; he knocked out Reiner in just 13 seconds to improve to 4-0.
Johnson’s quick rise as a middleweight was doused, however, when Johnson lost to Rich Clementi in his second UFC bout. Over the next few years, Johnson’s career stalled as he failed to make weight in numerous UFC fights and he was eventually released from the promotion.
Johnson, who now competes as a light heavyweight (205 pounds), received another chance. He fought twice for Titan Fighting Championship and recently signed with the World Series of Fighting, where he will compete on its first card on Nov. 3.
With the UFC controlling much of the market share, Johnson is grateful the smaller companies are giving fighters another chance at success.
“I think it’s great that we have all these different companies coming along because there’s so much talent out there and so many guys are overlooked because they get one shot at the big time and then they didn’t have a fight and get cut or something happened business-wise,” said Johnson, 28.
“I think it’s great that we have all these different companies out there that are actually willing to give the guys an opportunity so you can make money and make this their career and their job instead of fighting in really small shows and making $2,000 to $3,000 a fight. That’s not how everybody wants to live when you’re fighting every four to five months and you’re only getting only $2,000 to $3,000.”
Johnson, who signed a three-fight deal with the WSF, will compete against D.J. Linderman (14-3) on the card.
“He’s not a ground guy, and I’m not really a ground guy either,” said Johnson, 13-4. “I plan on it being a slugfest. If he wants to make it a slugfest with me, then there’s a 90 percent chance he’s going to lose. If he wants to take his chances with that 10 percent chance of him really winning that stand-up war, then more power to him.”
The World Series of Fighting, headed by president and former fighter Ray Sefo, will have its events carried by the NBC Sports Channel.
You can perform a one-arm choke by holding the back of your neck and using your head to push against your opponent and add pressure to rear-naked chokehold. Photo by Sarah Badat-Richardson. Assisted by Scott Ishihara
ONE-ARM, REAR-NAKED CHOKE by BURTON RICHARDSON: You generally need two arms to finish the rear-naked choke. One arm goes around the neck and the other supports the first, adding pressure and making it difficult for the opponent to pull the choking arm away. But what if the opponent holds your support arm? This is where the onearm choke comes in.
Put your choking arm in position, but instead of locking it inside your support arm, grab around the back of your neck. The trick is to move your body to the side and lower your head so you can grab your own neck. Push with your head to add pressure to the choke. With practice, you will find the angle to finish.
QUICK JABS: King of the Cage is back at the Blaisdell Arena Oct. 20 for MANA, with fighters Cabbage Correira and Lolohea Mahe set to tangle in the main event. Other fighters on the main card include Angeline Pereira, Lena Cook, Travis Beyer, Kelii Palencia, Bill Takeuchi and Maki Pitolo. Doors open at 2 p.m., amateur bouts begin at 3 p.m. and the pro card follows at 6 p.m. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster locations and the Blaisdell Box Office. Or, visit ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000 … For the third time in as many months, a major mixed martial arts card was canceled. Strikeforce scrapped its next card, scheduled for Nov. 3 in Oklahoma, last week when its top-tier talent on the card, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, sustained injuries and were forced from the card. Mir was set to face Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix winner Daniel Cormier in the main event. Strikeforce previously canceled a card earlier this month when its lightweight champion, Gilbert Melendez, was injured and unable to compete against Pat Healy. Showtime refused to air the event without the main event, resulting in the cancellation. “While we’re disappointed with the cancellation, we are looking forward to an even bigger Strikeforce event on Showtime early next year,” executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza said.
PHOTO CREDIT: UFC | Anthony Johnson, at right, shown staring down Dan Hardy, makes his debut with the World Series of Fighting Nov. 3.
