Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, a former mixed martial arts competitor who fought under the UFC and Bellator banners, died Sunday at age 38, Bellator announced on social media. According to Yahoo Sports, Johnson was diagnosed more than a year ago with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare disorder of the immune system. Bellator tweeted that the organization "is devastated by his untimely passing and we send our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time." Johnson boasted a 23-6 record in MMA with 17 wins by way of knockout.
He fought in the UFC from 2007 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2017, rising to become the number one contender in the light heavyweight division. Johnson lost a fight for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title to Daniel Cormier in May 2015, then fell back to Cormier for the light heavyweight championship in April 2017.
After the last fight he stepped away from MMA before returning to action at Bellator 258 in May 2021, where he knocked out Jose Augusto Azevedo in the second round of what was billed as a light heavyweight quarterfinal bout. He later withdrew from competition due to illness and did not fight again.
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman told Yahoo Sports that Johnson didn't say anything about his illness. Usman said of Johnson's MMA career: "He had the feet of a welterweight and the power of a heavyweight, and he was able to transfer that throughout his career. He was really special and talented, and he really didn't have to try very hard. ". He felt that he was working hard, but there were levels that he didn't reach, that he maybe didn't want to reach.
"It was natural. I admired him a lot. He made it look easy. I'd hit a guy and the guy just fell apart. I mean, I worked really hard and put in this time, and I finished and hit this guy with everything, and he'd be standing there." .Rumble was of a different caliber than the rest of us."
