Top-ranked Light Heavyweight contenders Anthony Johnson (No. 1) and Glover Teixeira (No. 2) locked horns tonight (Sat., Aug. 20, 2016) in a true eliminator match, with the victor earning the next title shot against reigning 205-pound champion, Daniel Cormier, down the road.
Advertisement
There wasn’t’ any trash talk leading up to the fight. “We’re not here to talk and throw bottles at each other”.
Johnson is the first fighter to score a knockout over Teixeira since 2002. Any opponent facing Johnson has to know that to get a win, they are going to have to weather some serious early danger. Johnson landed a right uppercut that rendered Teixeira unconscious just 13 seconds into the fight. The 31-year-old Diaz took the fight on less than two weeks’ notice after then-champion Rafael dos Anjos was forced out due to injury. I’m coming for you.
Advertisement
Johnson was absolutely delighted with his night’s work and used his post-fight interview to call out Cormier, who had a front row view for the 13-second bout. I’ve been busting my butt to get to the title. And Daniel? You the man, baby. He’s a hell of an athlete, a hell of a champion. Let’s get it on. “Much respect”, he said while the titleholder watched from the front row.
