November 13, 2022 (Sunday) – Devastating news came to the MMA community after the former two-time UFC title challenger dies at the very young age of 38 years old. Aside from learning the cause of death, we are also remembering the legacy of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. (Read more below)
🙏 It is with great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
The BELLATOR family is devastated by his untimely passing and we send our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/TqZzN1wquY
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 13, 2022
What was Johnson’s cause of death?
Last month, Johnson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, informed that the two-time UFC light heavyweight championship contender has been fighting a serious illness for well over a year now. Because of that, Ali requested the MMA community through ESPN to pray for Johnson and his recovery.
“I want everybody to pray for him. Pray for Anthony. He’s not doing well,” he said of Johnson’s health. “They’ve [Bellator and Scott Coker] been supporting him [Anthony Johnson]. You can not imagine how much support they’re giving them and they didn’t really have to.”
According to reports, Rumble Johnson died of organ failure due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. In simpler terms, this disease is a combination of lymphoma, or simply the accumulation of lymph nodes that create cancerous cells, and Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, an inflammatory syndrome that can lead to death.
OTHER NEWS: Former UFC Champ Cain Velasquez Arrested; Attempted Murder Allegations
Remembering Rumble Johnson and his fruitful MMA and UFC career
One of the strongest fighters in MMA history, Rumble Johnson made a name for himself as a top-tier knockout artist by achieving 17 of his 23 victories through stoppage. Throughout his career, he managed to record an impressive 23 wins in 29 matches. In the UFC, Rumble Johnson proved that he has one of the strongest punches in the promotion by taking a 12-6 record.
Johnson reached the pinnacle of UFC back in May 2015 when he became the challenger to the Light Heavyweight title held by Daniel Cormier. Unfortunately, he failed to strip Cormier of his belt. Johnson became a challenger again in 2017 but he yielded the same results. His second failed attempt at a championship marked the end of his career in the UFC. But, 4 years later, Rumble Johnson came out of retirement and signed a contract under Bellator promotions.
On a side note, Alex Pereira defeats Israel Adesanya for the third time
The Brazilian star quickly became a champion by beating Adesanya for the Middleweight title. The challenger, Pereira, has become the only person to knock out Adesanya throughout his career. Not only did he do it once, but he also did it twice!
OTHER NEWS: UFC 281: Pereira defeats Adesanya for the third time, strips him of the UFC middleweight title
What’s next for Adesanya and Pereira? Will there be a fourth bout between the two or does this fight already conclude a trilogy?
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OTHER NEWS: UFC 281: Pereira defeats Adesanya for the third time, strips him of the UFC middleweight title
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