Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson Shockingly Retires After UFC 210

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, one of the best fighters in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, shocked everyone in the MMA world when he announced his retirement after his submission loss to UFC champ Daniel Cormier Saturday night.
Johnson, 33, was a slight favorite heading into UFC 210 and his rematch with Cormier despite losing their first tilt. Many experts predicted the heavy hitter would use his power and striking to claim the Light Heavyweight championship this time around. But Johnson chose to wrestle with Cormier, who was able to control him with his grappling and ground skills before scoring a submission victory via rear naked choke at 3:37 of the second round.
But the real stunner was Johnson’s retirement despite his 22-6 record and victories in 12 of his past 14 fights. If he truly does retire, he’ll be walking away from a potential big-money fight against former champion Jon Jones.
“This is my last fight,” Johnson said in the Octagon. “I didn’t even tell [UFC president] Dana White. My coaches knew. My family knew. My friends knew. I have to thank you all for being there for me. I gave my commitment to something I’ve wanted to do for a while. It’s not MMA-related. It’s just time to move on.
“I’m tired of getting punched by other guys. There’s nothing fun about that. I enjoyed it, though. I enjoyed the UFC.”
Cormier (18-2) spoke about Jones in his post-fight interview. The two squared off for the belt in 2015, before Jones was stripped os his title due to legal troubles. They were supposed to meet again at UFC 200 last July, but Jones was suspended for failing a drug test. His suspension ends July 6.
“Don’t talk to me about a guy that’s ineligible,” Cormier said as Jones stood cageside. “When you get your s— together and are ready to fight, I’ve been waiting for two years.”