Anthony Johnson ready for Vitor Belfort at UFC RIO

UFC 141 is LIVE on PPV TONIGHT @ 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET

Story by Anthony Springer Jr.

Rumors of Anthony Johnson’s weight cut are greatly exaggerated.

Ok, so maybe they aren’t. In order to make the 170 pound limit, “Rumble” was cutting as much as 50 pounds between training camp and weigh in day. Simply put, Johnson, a former welterweight is about as big as light heavyweight champion Jon Jones when he’s not in training camp.

There are stories of Johnson threatening trainers due to exhaustion from weight cutting in the sauna; others have him literally carried to and from the scale for weigh ins.
Those issues are behind him now. Johnson—finally—will make the jump to middleweight tomorrow at UFC Rio.

“I’m going to stay here and I’m going to take over this weight class,” Johnson said earlier this week.

Vitor Belfort may have something to say about that.

The Southern Californian faces a stiff test in “the Phenom.” Not exactly a gimme fight in his first test at 185. The pair square off in the evening’s co-main event. And while Johnson will still hold a size advantage, Belfort has lightening quick hands and is one of the best finishers in MMA .

“I’m going to test his heart and I’m going to be 100 percent for him and he’s going to face a hungry, hungry lion. I have faith in my ability,” Belfort said. “No man can stand against me when I am in this frame of mind. I am very happy to represent Brazil and am looking forward to this week and enjoying the UFC being here. But once I am in the Octagon, and the door slams shut, it is all business.”

Johnson is undeterred by Belfort’s heavy hands and insists he packs a mean punch as well (Johnson holds several notable KO victories).

“He’s fast, he’s powerful, he has a lot of experience, but my right hand is his Kryptonite.”

According to “Rumble,” this is a stepping stone on his way to greater things in the division; namely a title shot with reigning king Anderson Silva.

“I will dominate Vitor Belfort. Chael Sonnen is seen as the top threat to Anderson Silva’s title Well, I am at 185-pounds and everyone at middleweight has to worry about me now. I’m in this division to go to the top. You will see a whole different animal now I am at this weight class.”
. . . .

For more info on the UFC or UFC: RIO, visit www.UFC.com

January 14th, 2012

For all the latest boxing news, click here.