Anthony Johnson was set to challenge UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier for the gold at UFC 206, but Cormier got injured and put a kibosh on the main event. Middleweight standout Gegard Mousasi was willing to step up and face Johnson at the event, but Johnson turned the fight down.
Johnson said he didn't think twice about rejecting the proposed contest.
"No, not at all. It didn’t interest me at all," said Johnson on The MMA Hour. “When Gegard was presented to me, it would’ve been a good fight, but it wouldn’t have done anything for me. Fighting him and becoming the interim champion, as much trash as I’ve talked and ‘DC’ has talked about interim titles being fake champions, if I would have beat him, it wouldn’t mean anything. And if I had lost, I would have to start from scratch. It was just too risky."
While Johnson was upset the fight with Cormier has been delayed, he will not let emotions control him.
"I was disappointed, but I didn’t take it to heart because he is actually hurt. It’s not like he just popped a rib or twisted his ankle; the man is actually hurt. It didn’t bother me too bad," said Johnson.
Johnson is going to wait until Cormier recovers from his injury to challenge for the title, which is expected to happen in mid-2017.
