It may be a while until Anthony Johnson is back in the cage.
The former UFC title challenger and current Bellator light heavyweight contender is still not cleared to compete. Johnson (23-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is not 100 percent healthy and still recovering from an undisclosed illness that forced him out of an October title shot, according to Scott Coker.
Johnson, 37, was scheduled to challenge champion Vadim Nemkov in the semifinals of the light heavyweight grand prix at Bellator 268 before his withdrawal.
“Rumble” hasn’t been booked to compete since, and it appears he won’t be any time soon.
“I talked to him about a week ago and we had a very good conversation,” Bellator president Coker told MMA Junkie. “Without getting too much into his medical condition, he’s got to worry just about being healthy first. Fighting will always be there. I told him to keep doing what he’s doing, keep listening to the doctors and keep at it. We’re going to be here, we’re not going anywhere. If you get cleared at some point, we’ll definitely have you back.
“I think he has a little ways to go, to be honest, and we’re going to be there rooting him on. But until he gets clearance – I don’t look at it like he’s going to be fighting in six months or four months or eight months. Let him take his time, let him get healthy and when he gets healthy we can have a conversation. If it’s a year from now, 18 months from now, or six months from now, we’ll get at it. But until then, he’s got to heal up and get healthy because there’s so much more in life than just fighting. I want him to have a long, healthy life and that’s the most important thing.”
Johnson most recently competed at Bellator 258 in May when he stopped Jose Augusto by second-round knockout. The win marked his successful Bellator debut and a return to competition, as he hadn’t fought since losing to Daniel Cormier in a light heavyweight title fight at UFC 210 in 2017 then abruptly retiring.
Johnson is most notably known for his stint in the UFC. He competed for the promotion from 2007 to 2012 and then again from 2014 to 2017. Johnson challenged for the 205-pond twice, losing to Cormier on both occassions.
Scott Coker says Anthony Johnson still not cleared for Bellator return, has ‘a little ways to go’
