Ryan Bader vs Anthony Johnson Fight Video from UFC on Fox 18

When asked if he was comfortable waiting out the timetable for the tentatively slated title fight between current 205-pound champion Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones in April, Johnson said he was. The only defeat in that stretch came in a title fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 187. Johnson has won five of his last six fights and is coming off a September win over Jimi Manuwa. On the comeback towards the title, Rumble’s teammates (including former Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans) have spoken to the media about Johnson’s new determination and drive.

Anthony Johnson knew Ryan Bader wanted to take him down early in their UFC on Fox 18 main event.

The fight was billed as a battle of “Rumble” Johnson’s raw power versus Bader’s outstanding technical wrestling and on the night it was Johnson’s power that got the job done. “If they want to make me wait that long, I’ll definitely do it. It gives me plenty of time to get ready for whoever”. You’ve got to get him out of his comfort zone and put the pace on him, make him fight your way.

Saturday, the UFC returns to the state of New Jersey with the UFC on Fox. “He’s obviously a phenomenal fighter – he’s No. 2 in the world right now – so if I’ve got to beat him to prove myself, then that’s what I’ve got to do”.

“It wasn’t the strategy to shoot on him right away”, he said.

When I spoke to him before his fight with Josh Barnett on Saturday, Ben Rothwell spent a lot of time praising his coach Luiz Claudio.

It was Barnett’s first career loss by submission and surely Rothwell’s best career victory. In typical Bader form however, all five wins came way of decision and nothing flashy.

The fight started on the feet with both tentatively moving forward, wary of the fact that it could take just one clean strike from the other to finish the fight.

In a way, both Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader were robbed in 2015.

The much-hyped lightweight prospect, who took the welterweight fight against Barberena on eight days notice, tapped out to an arm triangle choke from half guard. “I don’t actually go out there to knock people out”.

Sage Northcutt’s meteoric rise to stardom at the ripe age of 19-years old came to a crashing halt in New Jersey last night at the hands of Bryan Barberena.

-Ben Rothwell defeated Josh Barnett with a shocking choke to become the first man to ever submit the former UFC champion(second round). I kind of look at this the same as when I fought [Quinton] “Rampage” Jackson in Japan [in 2012]. The light heavyweight contender loses consciousness as referee Keith Peterson intervenes at 1:26 of the first round. Alcantara is a seasoned veteran who has fought some of the biggest names in the weight class. Josh Barnett goes in as the submission specialist.

After a shaky first round that saw Barberena eat some powerful shots from Northcutt, “Bam Bam” was gifted top control by the 19-year old after an ill-fated flying attack that landed him on his back.