Anthony Johnson has passed far too soon.
Mixed martial artist and veteran UFC fighter Anthony Johnson has passed away at 38 years old. The longtime competitor succumbed to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma according to reports.
Known as one of the most talented knockout artists in mixed martial arts, Anthony Johnson was a fan favorite during his UFC tenure. He put on some tremendous performances throughout his career and has one of the most exciting highlight reels of any fighter in the sport. Johnson, also referred to as “Rumble”, had one of the most successful runs in light heavyweight history. His devastating power was on full display against some of the best of the best seeing him devastate top contenders and even former champion Glover Texeira.
After suffering a second defeat at the hands of former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, Anthony Johnson would retire from competition in 2017. He did so at the young age of 33. After retiring Johnson flirted with the notion of bodybuilding, putting on a great deal of muscle in the process.
Gone Too Soon
Anthony Johnson would eventually come out of retirement in May 2021 and get back to his winning ways with a knockout victory under the Bellator banner. It was supposed to be the first step towards climbing the ranks in a light heavyweight tournament. It would prove to be his final performance inside the cage. Johnson would withdraw from the tournament due to illness. While it’s not confirmed, this illness could be the same which would result in his passing.
Horrible news:
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson passed away today. He was 38 years old.
Johnson had been battling an illness for quite some time.
One of the hardest hitters and most talented fighters in MMA history. Gone way too soon.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/t5mVvRaNih
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 13, 2022
According to reports Anthony Johnson was suffering from Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. This immune issue would lead to Johnson developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Generation Iron team extends condolences to the family and friends of Anthony Johnson, gone too soon at the age of 38.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
