Rumble Johnson shows respect, doesn’t appreciate smack talk
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson didn’t think that he and opponent Glover Teixeira needed added banter and drama to their fight at UFC 202
“We don’t need all that talk,” Johnson said, referencing the preflight drama between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. “We just come out and do the damn thing.”
Johnson knocked out Teixeira in the quickest fight of the UFC 202 main card, going only 13 seconds in the first round. The 32-year-old Dublin, Georgia native hit a massive right-handed uppercut on Teixeira. Going into the bout, he had a strong feeling that he would land a knockout, it was just a matter of time.
“I knew I would knock him out eventually,” Johnson said. “I had pictured it for a while now and I told my coach this morning ‘if I knock Glover out, it’s gonna be about that.’ And it worked out.”
While McGregor and Diaz spent the week leading up to UFC 202 throwing insults, Johnson did not do any smack talking. He even applauded for Teixeira after the fight. To him as a fighter, it’s a matter of respect
“We go out there and put our life on the line, honestly. If we get hit the wrong way, it can be a lot of trouble,” Johnson said. “Every time they introduce a fighter I clap for them. Because they put in just as much hard work as I did. I just like to show respect.”
Johnson, who fights out of Blackzilians in Boca Raton, Florida, is now 22-5. Since returning to UFC in 2014, his only loss is to current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, a potential next opponent for Johnson.
