Former UFC fighter Anthony “Rumble” Johnson died at 38 years old following a cancer battle.
The mixed-martial artist passed away from organ failure due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a rare immune disease called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, Yahoo News reported.
UFC fighter dies
Johnson, who acquired the nickname “Rumble” for his devastating knock-out punch, had an MMA record of 23-6.
Seventeen of those wins were knockouts.
Throughout his career, he defeated fighters like Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, Alexander Gustafsson and Phil Davis.
The sad news of his death sent a ripple of grief through the MMA community.
“He was always a great kid,” UFC president Dana White said of Johnson. “He was always in fun fights and he had that one-punch KO power that not many people ever had. He was a good human being. I send my condolences to his family.”
Talented fighter packed a punch
Daniel Cormier, who defeated Johnson in both of his UFC light heavyweight title fights, was also among those who paid tribute to the late fighter.
Rest Easy my brother. For a guy who struck fear in so many peoples heart Anthony Johnson was a caring person. From random text to check ins during loss. What a person he was, Rumble will be missed. Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. Horrible news #RIP #Rumblesquad @Anthony_Rumble pic.twitter.com/HH2SO1dPj7
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) November 13, 2022
In 2017, Johnson retired from UFC following his second fight with Cormier.
He would later join MMA promotion Bellator, where he had one last fight in 2021 against José Augusto Azevedo Barros, which he won by knockout. Johnson was forced by his illness to withdraw from a fight with light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.
In 2014, Johnson was temporarily suspended by the UFC over domestic violence allegations.