A. Johnson (photo) debuts in Bellator against J. Augusto 'Gugu' in May. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Who thought that Anthony Johnson I would be at peace without the hard commitment of facing Yoel romero in his Bellator debut, he made a mistake. Former UFC icon, the veteran showed respect to Brazilian José Augusto 'Gugu', who accepted the challenge of facing the North American at the last minute. In an interview with 'South China Morning Post', the former Ultimate made a point of valuing the commitment and went further when dealing with the Bahian.
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“I wanted to face Romero in this one, but I have a new opponent, who is on a five-fight win streak. For me, he is more dangerous than Yoel. This man has everything to gain and nothing to lose. There were other fighters who would like to face me, but their time will come. If they want pepper, they’ll get it,” Johnson said.
Former challenger for the UFC light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) belt, Anthony did not miss the opportunity to show respect to 'Gugu', who entered the confrontation after Romero left the fight, after failing the medical exams. With the Brazilian's arrival, Johnson was able to maintain his preparation and continue with his commitment as established months ago.
“Gratitude to José, for accepting the fight. I have a lot of respect for him, just because he accepted it. It's not just dangerous for me, it's for him too. However, it is a great opportunity for him”, he concluded.
An MMA professional since 2012, 'Gugu' arrives at the biggest challenge of his career – to date – just over a month after making his Bellator debut. The Bahian debuted in the organization in April, when he submitted Jonathan Wilson in the first round. The Tupiniquim is heading towards his 11th fight as a professional in the sport, with seven victories, two setbacks and one 'no result' fight.
A UFC light heavyweight standout for years, Johnson is approaching a new challenge in his career. At 37 years old and without fighting since 2017, the American is going into his 29th commitment. To date, the veteran has 22 wins and six losses in his career.
The clash between Anthony and 'Gugu' will be valid for the quarterfinals of the Bellator light heavyweight tournament. At the end of the championship, in addition to the category belt, the winner will receive a prize of US$1 million (approximately R$5,4 million).
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