Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, who went 13-6 in the UFC from 2007 through 2017 and compiled a 23-6 overall MMA record, died Sunday at age 38. The cause of death was organ failure due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: UFC light heavyweight Anthony"Rumble" Johnson interacts with fans during a Q&A session before before the UFC 184 weigh-in at the Event Deck and LA Live on February 27, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Anthony"Rumble" Johnson, who went 13-6 in the UFC from 2007 through 2017 and compiled a 23-6 overall MMA record, died Sunday at age 38. The cause of death was organ failure due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Johnson competed in the UFC at welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight, was known as one of the most feared punchers in the sport. He was 3-0 when he debuted in the UFC on June 12, 2007, knocking out Chad Reiner in just 13 seconds in Hollywood, Florida. He scored 17 of his 23 MMA wins by knockout, and as he massively bulked up in his career, he kept his power with him. He twice challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, losing to Daniel Cormier both times by rear naked choke. Cormier defeated Johnson first at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015, for the vacant title that had been stripped from Jon Jones.
At UFC 210 in Buffalo, New York, on April 8, 2017, Cormier won again by rear naked choke submission. That was Johnson's final UFC and his penultimate MMA bout. He retired to open a marijuana business, but signed with Bellator and fought with the promotion once. He knocked out José Augusto Azevedo Barros at 1:30 of the second round at Bellator 258 on May 7, 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
"He was always a great kid," UFC president Dana White said of Johnson."He was always in fun fights and he had that one-punch KO power that not many people ever had. He was a good human being. I send my condolences to his family."
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