The UFC group is mourning the lack of 38-year-old Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, who died after battling an undisclosed sickness.
Based on experiences, Johnson’s supervisor instructed ESPN that he was going by way of well being issues in October and was not doing effectively.
Johnson’s dying was introduced Sunday on social media by Bellator MMA, one of many promotions Johnson fought below. A spokesperson for Bellator said that Johnson had been sick for greater than a yr. An announcement issued on behalf of the corporate learn:
“The BELLATOR household is devastated by his premature passing and we ship our condolences to his household and pals throughout this tough time.”
Johnson posted a worrying message in September 2021 that he wanted “as many prayers as I can get” and was in a battle that wasn’t COVID-19 associated. Johnson then posted in Could that he had been instructed by a physician that he had made “large enhancements.”
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The previous UFC fighter starred in lots of gentle heavyweight title challenges, with 11 complete knockouts in his 10-year profession from 2007 to 2017, with an general document of 13-6. Johnson competed in three completely different weight courses throughout his time at UFC and have become acknowledged amongst many MMA followers as some of the highly effective punchers within the sport.
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who was shut pals with Jonhson, instructed Yahoo Sports activities that Johnson was personal and saved his sickness hidden as a lot as doable.
“, it was a little bit like [the late actor] Chadwick Boseman,” Usman instructed Yahoo Sports activities. “Chadwick saved his difficulty personal, and we had been all so shocked and stunned [when he died in 2020]. Rumble would offer you these nonchalant tales, and he was having dialysis on his kidneys, however he by no means actually instructed you absolutely what was happening. He didn’t need to be handled in a different way.”
“He didn’t need individuals seeing him dropping all this weight and going by way of these conditions and deal with him in a different way due to what was happening.”
“He was such an unbelievable athlete.”
UFC president Dana White additionally remarked on Johnson’s passing.
“He was all the time an excellent child. He was all the time in enjoyable fights and he had that one-punch KO energy that not many individuals ever had. He was an excellent human being. I ship my condolences to his household,” White instructed the outlet.