Anthony Johnson shocked the MMA world when he announced his retirement following a second loss to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 210.
Even though the fighter is now retired, a fight with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones could entice Johnson to un-retire.
“I’m an alpha male, and he’s an alpha male,” Johnson said after the event. “I wanted to see what I can do against him. I am pretty sure he wanted to see what he can do against me. Because you guys hyped it up so much that I was supposed to be the guy who beat him, and all this and that. You guys do your job very well, hyping things up, so props to you. But I feel I’m more – I don’t know if I want to say sad, disappointed, for the fans, because I know they really wanted to see it. Day in and day out, people are always talking about Jon Jones and myself fighting each other, and it just never happened. Maybe if I decide to come back one day, we can fight at heavyweight or something like that.”
Johnson and Jones were set to fight a few years back at UFC 187, but Jones pulled out of the fight and the two have never fought inside the Octagon.
Jones would most likely prove to be a tough fight for Johnson, but the retired fighter says somebody else was his toughest opponent.
“Toughest fight I could possibly think of was always with myself,” Johnson said. “That’s just what it is. That’s everybody’s fight. You always battle yourself and not the opponent.”
The now retired fighter will be leaving the sport with a record of 22-6-0 and his only two losses during his second UFC run came to champion Daniel Cormier.
