Weight and See

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Anthony Johnson was one of the UFC’s most imposing figures in his previous weight class, a monstrous welterweight who normally carried upwards of 215 pounds on his 6-foot-2 inch frame.

While Johnson’s size and athleticism were obvious advantages against most of the opponents he faced, the effects of one of the most difficult and draining weight cuts in the sport often took a considerable toll. Assuming he made weight, the Georgia native often tired later in bouts, negating his physical edge. Despite those struggles, “Rumble” managed to compile a 7-3 mark in the Octagon at 170 pounds.

However, UFC 142 marks the beginning of a new era for the former junior college national champion wrestler. When Johnson squares off with Vitor Belfort at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, it will be as a middleweight. It will also presumably be as a happier man.

“I weigh 215 right now, and I still feel great,” Johnson said during a UFC conference call a little less than two weeks prior to his fight. “The weight is gonna come off, no problem. I end up cutting my last bit of weight the day before weigh-ins. This is easy; this is gonna be a lot of fun for me, so that’s why I feel so good. And I don’t have to cut the weight I had to cut. I’m more explosive, I’m more athletic and I’m peaking at the right time.”

Words like “easy” and “fun” did not describe the process of getting to 170 pounds, but Johnson was gradually becoming more effective in recent performances there nonetheless.

At UFC Fight Night 24 in March, Johnson grounded out an efficient -- if not enthralling -- decision win against former title contender Dan Hardy. He gave a resounding response to critics of that bout at UFC Live 6 in October, knocking out the up-and-coming Charlie Brenneman with a head kick in the first round. Johnson was clearly ascending the welterweight ranks, and a couple more quality wins might have thrust him into title contention. Still, the 27-year-old does not expect to return to 170 pounds anytime soon.

“Right now, middleweight is where I am. That’s all I’m thinking about right now,” he said. “I don’t mind fighting middleweights because I get to eat more now. I feel 1,000 times better than when I fought at 170.”

Johnson was rewarded with a marquee opponent for his move. Belfort is coming off an impressive victory over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133, where he displayed the dangerous hands that are known as some of the fastest in the promotion. The Brazilian earned his first UFC victory at age 19, and, after a stint in Pride Fighting Championships, he returned to the Las Vegas-based organization to capture the light heavyweight crown in 2004. After a brief slump and another hiatus, Belfort appears to be near top form once again. Since 2007, he has been defeated only once, by an Anderson Silva front kick at UFC 126.

Johnson is well aware of the dangers Belfort presents, and he welcomes the challenge.

“It’s not intimidating at all,” said Johnson, who is based at Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Fla. “It’s actually motivating for me; it makes me even more hungry. What it shows me is that the UFC believes in me in giving me this opportunity to fight. He’s a phenom -- he’s phenomenal -- but when it comes to fighting, that means nothing to me. I’m still going to do the best that I can do; that’s punch people, hit people, take people down and win fights.

“Vitor says he’s the lion, and I love it,” he added. “Before my granddad passed, he told me to always look across the cage as if there was a lion staring at me. When Vitor said he was the lion, I loved it. It’s provided the type of motivation I’m looking for. I’m going to go out there and have a good time with this. I’m not scared of him. Let me fight the lion.”

He will have to do it in a hostile environment. UFC 134, which marked the promotion’s first event in Brazil in 13 years, provided an atmosphere unlike anything in recent memory. The vocal throng in Rio figures to be in full force again at UFC 142, cheering Belfort as he attempts to move back toward middleweight title contention.

That, too, is just fine with Johnson.

“Going there [to Brazil] is an honor,” he said. “This is where it all began. I don’t mind coming into anybody’s backyard, putting on a show and fighting to the best of my ability, because that’s what I’m gonna do no matter what.

“I’m a new guy in this weight class trying to make a name for myself,” Johnson added. “Vitor has done a lot in this sport, but I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about beating this guy up.”

Now seemingly settled at a more comfortable weight class, Johnson has his sights set on extending his career well into his 40s.

“I want to fight as long as possible,” he said. “If I can be fighting at the age that Randy [Couture] was fighting at, that would be a blessing and an honor.”