Anthony Johnson Explains Blowing the UFC 104 Weigh-Ins
by Kid Nate on Oct 24, 2009 6:23 PM EDT
in News
59 comments
Heavy.com gets the scoop:
Heavy.com: Was this the first time you tried to cut from 220?
Anthony Johnson: Yeah, I never get that high. That's the heaviest I've ever been in my life. But I got an injury when I was getting ready for Matt Brown, I hurt my knee again. When you get injured, you don't do much. You sit around and eat and get fat. That's exactly what I did.
Heavy.com: What weight do you usually start at?
Anthony Johnson: Usually I start at 210. That ten pound difference made a big impact. You know what I mean? It kicked my butt, but I was prepared for it. I was prepared to just grind it out and get down to 171. And I was in the sauna for an hour and I lost three or four pounds right off the bat. I knew it was coming off. That's why I said that if I had another hour or two, I would have been able to make it. I got out of the sauna, and I think I was out too long because my sweating stopped, and when I got back in the sauna I couldn't get anything else off. That's what broke me.
Heavy.com: What were you at the day before the weigh-ins?
Anthony Johnson: Well, I was working with this trainer, a friend of my agent. He wanted me to try barely eating anything but getting a lot of fluids in me. So we did that, and I was 192 on Monday and I should have been less than 185 on Wednesday and I wouldn't need to make the hard cut on Friday. The trainer told me, "drink a lot of water and don't eat too much". So I did that, and then on Thursday I did a three hour workout and dropped from 198 to 183. I was 192 and I drank all of this water that he wanted me to drink and got back up to 198. Doing his thing, it was cool but I think the process got started too late. If I'd done things the way I always did, I would have been fine, but trying this new method, this new way of doing things, really jacked my body up.
Johnson also says he's looking into moving up to middleweight. He also promises to organize all his coaches, trainers, even his agent for a meeting on Monday to sort out the situation so his trainings so more smoothly in the future.
Best of luck Anthony.
Meanwhile, Yoshiyuki Yoshida might have just caught an enormous break.
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At least he's not making excuses.
He let himself get too heavy, didn’t account for the extra 10lbs, and will takes steps to prevent it in the future. What more needs being said?
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“When you get injured, you don’t do much. You sit around and eat and get fat. That’s exactly what I did.”
Here’s what more needs to be said- be a professional and don’t sit around eating burgers and fries, eat fish, stick to a diet, do your upper body workouts and don’t let yourself gain that extra ten pounds. I don’t see where you get that “he’s not making excuses”, he most certainly is.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 4:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
The difference in calories your body is burning can be difficult to account for. There is no way you could get near the amount of calories burned in his normal workout from just upper body workouts.
Maybe he should start weighing his food like Rich Franklin
by HighNoon on Oct 24, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well obviously he’s not gonna burn as many but that can be accounted for with a healthy diet.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 5:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Saying you let yourself get fat isn't an excuse - it's openly admitting you screwed up.
He is taking the full blame and organizing his team to prevent it from happening again – which I believe is “being a professional.”
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Read it again
“When you get injured, you don’t do much. You sit around and eat and get fat.”
There isn’t a single “I” in his statement, he’s saying well that’s what everyone does so it’s ok for me to do it, that’s Excuse Making 101.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Reasons are different from Excuses
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 24, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
An excuse would have been if he blamed getting fat on a King of the Hill marathon and a bag of Doritos.
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 24, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bullshit. Use the whole quote.
When you get injured, you don’t do much. You sit around and eat and get fat. That’s exactly what I did.
And if you read further:
I think the process [of weight-cutting] got started too late.And after the link:
After this, though, I told my coaches, my agent, everybody that hangs out with me or that will ever be in my corner that we all have to sit down and get everything situated. Because I can’t be losing weight like that…I just don’t take pride in what happened yesterday.This is a clear admission of guilt.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So why not say
“I sat around and got fat” or “I started the cutting too late”? Instead he says “you” get fat and “the process” got started too late.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Because in colloquial English, it’s common to speak of universals in the second person. Also, since he had been referring to weight-cutting, everyone knew that was the process in question. And he did say he got fat, in the very quote I cited. Why are you resorting to picking apart an irrelevant nuance of language to attack AJ for seemingly refusing to admit he made an error?
NB: I never watch vlogs. From what you say, maybe he underestimated the cut?
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is nitpicking
He’s just using a 2nd person passive mode of speech that everybody uses to establish a connection from what he did to what other people do. We all do this without ever thinking about it.
Key Quote: “That’s exactly what I did.”
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 24, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In other words
“Thats what everyone else does so it’s ok that I did it too”. Well everyone else isn’t a pro athlete who has to make a specified weight as part of their job.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
You're reading too much into it
In other words: “I fucked up, we all do.”
Ain’t got no problem with that.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 24, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How on earth are you extrapolating that he thought that behaviour was acceptable because every one else does it?
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“When you get injured, you don’t do much. You sit around and eat and get fat.”
Maybe I’m wrong but that’s how I read it. You and I sitting on our ass eating big macs is a lot different from him doing it.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Why are you assuming that he ate grossly unhealthy foods?
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because if any fighter ever says anything about any mistake/loss ever, he’s making an excuse and crying about it.
Come on man, don’t you know anything?
by Shaun32887 on Oct 24, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because if you’re eating carrots, bananas, and baked fish you aren’t going to gain ten pounds in a matter of a few weeks even if you’re just sitting on your ass doing nothing.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 8:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
What is your problem with AJ? Anyone who is extremely active and gets injured will blow up a bit. 10lbs extra coming off an injury isn’t that much.
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 24, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you’re active and do a sport where you regularly cut it’s worse too.
All the judo guys I know who cut the most weight (and in judo it’s still not much compared to wrestling/mma usually) would balloon up when they stopped practicing for some reason and then eventually your body comes back to it’s natural size.
by kid_eh on Oct 24, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That said, I hope Zenko takes this… and the bad cut might mean gassed out Rumble like in the Clementi fight.
by kid_eh on Oct 24, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t have a problem with him personally, I do however hate all these people acting like he’s the second coming of Christ when he’s accomplished next to nothing in the sport yet.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I think there is too much hype as well...
and I think he’ll be very average if he tries to move up to 185. That being said. These are guys that eat like 5000 calories a day and burn it off training. Your body doesn’t adjust well to just going from 5000 down to 1200 because you’re hurt. It still wants the fuel and you gain weight.
It happens to athletes in ALL sports. Obviously his method for cutting was less than ideal and he should have accounted for the extra weight. But I don’t think the gaining of weight was due to a lack of professionalism.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you want proof here is GSP in his halloween costume. The groin injury has him a bit out of shape
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Strange...it looks like BJ Penn during training...
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Oct 24, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, Brent
He has no excuses. Even with a groin injury he can use the old Sears-Roebuck “butt shakers”:
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 24, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe you’re right and my hatred of his overblown hype is blinding me but even if your knee is hurt there are things you can do so you don’t just sit around and get fat as he is admitting to doing.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 7:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
The way I see it is that it’s disappointing and unprofessional for him not to make weight. But it isn’t unprofessional to gain weight while off due to an injury. I mean, Rome and I both posted the fat Silva photo and I’m sure that’s a lot to due with him being out of the gym because of the elbow surgery. That being said, I’m sure he’ll account for it and make weight for his next fight.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oops...
I see Rome already posted it
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 24, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heavy.com
What an appropriate place for this interview.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
by FRANKIE on Oct 24, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
So the fight is still happening tonight, but at a catchweight?
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Oct 24, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes. He looked very disappointed at the weigh ins, of course he should be.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 4:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Anthony Johnson failed to make weight (176 pounds) and had already notified Yoshida; Johnson will be fined 20% of purse for missing weight.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Oct 24, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As he should be, he will be getting some of that money that he lost after he gets knock out of the night tho, so i guess it will even out.
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 24, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think?
Bad cuts tend to weaken fighters.
by dv8shun on Oct 24, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's usually no good excuse for a pro fighter to miss weight...
but I think Johnson is handling it properly. Apparently, he let Yoshida’s camp no about his trouble before the weigh in, and he didn’t make excuses. He tried to explain where he felt he went wrong, but took the blame on his shoulders as he should. All you can ask is that he doesn’t let it happen again.
by Cannon Jacques on Oct 24, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see how yoshida is catching a break by being outweighed unless you mean Johnson will be tired from the cut, then I understand.
by cagefightonacid on Oct 24, 2009 5:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Thats what I was thinking??? How does Yoshida catch an "enormous" break?
by Fight Genius on Oct 24, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m guessing because he had a small chance to beat rumble either way. At least with the weight issue, he’s less likely to get cut in case of a loss. That’s just what I’m thinking anyway.
by midwestbred on Oct 24, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
because there's nothing more debilitiating
than a brutal and failed weight cut on top of coming in out of shape.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Oct 24, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meanwhile, Yoshiyuki Yoshida might have just caught an enormous break.
Does he get to wear a helmet?
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 24, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No, Johnson is the one who gets the extra cushioning.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I guess no one asked him about all of the partying he has been doing as of late.. oooo wait he was just seen pigging out at the Oakland Raiders game last Sunday!! Don’t let AJ fool you, all that know him know he has no work ethic, barely trains is to busy chasing tail around the bay while his wife is left in San Deigo to question him!! No good, and very unprofessional.. don’t let the youngster fool ya!
by ufcfan09 on Oct 24, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Um, fighter bash much?
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Oct 24, 2009 7:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Should throw up another poll. I’m curious as to whether this influences peoples’ picks.
by Ahhhoki on Oct 24, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bowdown to machida and fedor.. they dont need to be big to win
by pandaboy99 on Oct 24, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good fighters can cut weight.. but great fighters go up in weight class
by pandaboy99 on Oct 24, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoa!
Also, that goatee was never a good look, Anderson.
by JRN on Oct 24, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s trying to grow it out like Tiki
by MickDawg on Oct 24, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He doesn’t look THAT heavy in the pic. Doesn’t he normally walk around 220ish?
by oasis77 on Oct 24, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im a big AJ fan but this is inexcusable. Im tired of these guys getting paid to do nothing but train that still fail to make weight. There is just no excuse he should have adjusted his diet and his water intake long before it was too late, Im very dissappointed.
by nsiegel on Oct 24, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If you want to be the heaviest guy in your weight class to give yourself the biggest possible advantage on fight night then you have to deal with the backlash when you miss weight, it’s that simple. Either move up or deal Trying to lose 50 pounds in that short a period of time isn’t healthy anyway.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 24, 2009 6:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I’m guessing AJ will push toward 200 lbs by fight time.
by m-e-s-s-i-a-h on Oct 24, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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