Retired Anthony Johnson teases return in cryptic message: ‘I’m getting that itch’
Anthony Johnson’s retirement started less than two months ago, and it could be over in the foreseeable future.
Anthony Johnson is retired, but perhaps not for as long as expected.
“Rumble” stepped away from mixed martial arts competition after a UFC 210 title loss to light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in April. Johnson, who confused most viewers by trying to take “DC,” a high-level wrestler, to the mat, tapped out to a rear-naked choke in the second round of the main event.
But while watching the UFC Fight Night 109 main event between former opponents Alexander Gustafsson and Glover Teixeira on Sunday, the Florida resident implied in a cryptic tweet that a return could be on the horizon in the foreseeable future.
I'm getting that itch!
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) May 28, 2017
Show these boy's how to throw an uppercut the Right way!
“I’m getting that itch!” Johnson wrote. “Show these boy’s how to throw an uppercut the Right way!”
Johnson beat both Gustafsson and Teixeira in the first round of their respective 2015 and 2016 bouts. Gustafsson defeated Teixeira with a fifth-round TKO in Stockholm, Sweden.
If Johnson does indeed return to the cage, he would be following in the footsteps of many fighters who have stepped away from the sport only to return months or years later. A recent example is former welterweight titleholder Georges St-Pierre, who is targeted to come back later this year.
Johnson reportedly left fighting to work an off-field position with an NFL football team. He recently mentioned the possibility of opening a medical marijuana facility.