White On Rumble Release — ‘Use Your Imagination’

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title contender Anthony Johnson was expected to rejoin the 205-pound ranks after a brief retirement, but then suddenly parted ways with the promotion and signed with Bellator MMA.

So what the heck happened?

“First of all I have a good relationship with Anthony Johnson,” UFC President Dana White told TSN. “I like him very much. He was under contract with us. I would have loved to have seen him compete here. I dunno … use your imagination. I have a great relationship with him. If he wants to talk about it, that’s his business, not mine.”

Sounds legit.

The only thing preventing Johnson from booking a return fight was six months of United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug testing, required for all returning athletes previously competing under the UFC banner.

And the days of Lesnar loopholes are long gone.

Unless Johnson decides to spill the beans, all we can do at this point is speculate, but whatever kept “Rumble” from the Octagon doesn’t appear to be serious enough to prevent him from competing elsewhere.