Anthony Johnson Says John Howard Backed Out Of Their Upcoming Fight

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 12:03 AM EDT Comment 38 comments

In an interview with Sports Action Network, up-and-coming Welterweight powerhouse Anthony Johnson says that John Howard has backed out of their upcoming fight at the TUF 9 Finale in June, and calls the move "cowardly."

I was supposed to fight John Howard for the Ultimate Fighter Finale, but supposedly he backed out, so uh, I don’t know. I don’t know why he backed out, you know, he’s a fighter, he fights for the UFC, he shouldn’t back out of any fight. But it’s up to him. If he don’t think he’s ready for the competition don’t sign up for the UFC, you know what I mean?

…

You get in there and you’re supposed to fight, that’s what we get paid to do, and you’re supposed to love what you do. To back out of a fight, you know, unless it’s an injury, it’s like a cowardly move.

HT: THEMMAFiend.com

UPDATE: Five Ounces Of Pain has confirmed it:

A welterweight bout between welterweights Anthony Johnson and John Howard will not be taking place during the live finale for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter on June 20 as previously reported.

Sources close to Johnson revealed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com on Friday that while the match was proposed and Johnson had agreed to it, Howard never submitted a signed bout agreement.

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Pretty weak if that's true

I’m sure there are plenty of other guys who wouldn’t mind a spot on the main card of a nationally televised fight.

by ufc4 on Mar 13, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good…wasn’t looking forward to that match up at all. Johnson is a top 5 welterweight…bring in koscheck as a replacement.

by Dark Tower on Mar 13, 2009 12:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was hoping for Koscheck against Johnson but Koscheck is already scheduled for UFC 98 (can’t remember against who). Would be a great fight, maybe they can meet towards the end of the summer.

by ufc4 on Mar 13, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Koscheck against Chris Wilson at UFC 98

by Scott Haber on Mar 13, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

High hopes for Wilson after his fight with Fitch. This isn’t a good match-up for him as his 3rd fight in the UFC.

by Heenan on Mar 13, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paulo Thiago?

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s what popped into my head too.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Hazelett recovers from his injury by June

I’d love to see Hazelett vs. Rumble

by Scott Haber on Mar 13, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I guess Dustin is stepping up.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn.. that would be a hard fight for McLovin..

I love hazelett but he’d have his hands full this time.. i think that if he could take rumble down he could sub him.. But how? anthony johnson is a pretty good wrestler, and if the fight ends up standing it wouldn’t be too good for hazelett..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 13, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you are right, but I’ll never count Dustin out. The kid pulls submissions out of his ass like butter… wait, that makes no sense.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so you use butter to make it less painful? ;)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 13, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps I have said too much…

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup, coming out of the closet is generally done in person and not in blogs.

hahaha. i kid i kid. ;)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 13, 2009 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“And so I pull out my gun!”

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Mar 14, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weird.

I thought that was a pretty even fight.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 13, 2009 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“UPDATE: According to IrishFighter110 over on the UG, Dustin Hazelett is stepping in.”

Sounds like a real credible source. Did you do any research at all before posting this?

by smoogy on Mar 13, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love you.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You got trolled dude. Fightlinker picking it up is the icing on the cake though. Wordpress really is to blame for all this. They enable you guys.

by smoogy on Mar 13, 2009 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How did I get trolled? I didn’t say it was a fact, I said “IrishFighter110 over on the UG” said it.

But your concern is much appreciated.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Dustin is stepping in I’m calling it for him. If i ends up on the ground at all Hazelett is clearly superior. If it doesn’t get to the ground I’m going with Hazelett by flying armbar.

by FRANKIE on Mar 13, 2009 1:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hazelett

is out 6-8 months. He tore his ACL at the end of February.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 13, 2009 1:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

thanks for the info. I knew he was out, but I didn’t know for how long.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ACL tearsare so bad for fighters…or any athlete for that matter. so much strength and balance come from your knees and lower legs. i know everybody hates on shogun but i seriously think his 2 ACL tears are whats really fucking him up…most recently we saw stephan bonner look like shit after his knee surgery and overall ring rust. hope hazelett can make a decent comeback..

by Dark Tower on Mar 13, 2009 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that is true about Howard expect his next fight to be against Fitch and after he losses to get cut, you don’t try to strong arm the UFC for anything when your a nobody ask well ask Fitch.

by Raker on Mar 13, 2009 2:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dumbass or worried?

If this is purely about the money then this is a pretty dumb move.

If this is about the risk-reward ratio then John Howard should probably go train a bit more before trying to come back to the UFC. It means that he feels like he will lose again Rumble and the monetary reward isn’t enough to justify his risk.

Personally I think it’s the latter.

by rainmaker6 on Mar 13, 2009 3:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From what I am hearing it was his managements decision, but I don’t know that for a fact. Either way, if he pulled out of the fight for any reason other than and injury or possible a family matter, it doesn’t look good. The UFC has shown numerous times in the past that they do not like that kind of attitude.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dammit, why can’t you edit comments.

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeh

Dana likes guys that come to fight.

We’ll see how this plays out.

by rainmaker6 on Mar 13, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn, wish the Hazelett thing is true. I guess Paulo makes the most sense. Also, how about Jon Fitch? He fought in January, does he have a new fight scheduled?

by Michael Rome on Mar 13, 2009 7:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don’t they both train with AKA?

by mmafiend on Mar 13, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Theyre both in San Jose but he is not with AKA, he trains with Cung Le and his camp.

I feel like they may be saving Fitch for Condit if Condit beats Kampmann. Paulo Thiago makes the most sense here, but stylistically it looks like a good fight for Johnson.

by Michael Rome on Mar 13, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs