Former KOTC Champ Signs with Bellator
Mike Whitman Feb 4, 2011
One-time King of the Cage heavyweight champion Tony Johnson
Jr. has signed with the Bellator Fighting Championships,
Sherdog.com has learned from a source close to the negotiations.
Terms of the deal remain unknown, though Johnson is expected to
compete during Bellator’s upcoming fourth season.
Johnson made his professional debut in 2008, earning three straight victories before challenging for the KOTC title in March. The heavyweight earned a unanimous decision over Tony Lopez at King of the Cage “Legacy” to snatch away the belt. Johnson lost the title in his first defense, however, as he was stopped by Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in August. The American Kickboxing Academy standout found a rear-naked choke early in round one, forcing Johnson to submit.
Recently, Johnson bounced back from the Cormier defeat -- the only one of his career -- with a unanimous decision win over Boban Simic in November. The 265-pound heavyweight has knocked out two of his five career victims and has never lost a fight by KO.
Johnson made his professional debut in 2008, earning three straight victories before challenging for the KOTC title in March. The heavyweight earned a unanimous decision over Tony Lopez at King of the Cage “Legacy” to snatch away the belt. Johnson lost the title in his first defense, however, as he was stopped by Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in August. The American Kickboxing Academy standout found a rear-naked choke early in round one, forcing Johnson to submit.
Recently, Johnson bounced back from the Cormier defeat -- the only one of his career -- with a unanimous decision win over Boban Simic in November. The 265-pound heavyweight has knocked out two of his five career victims and has never lost a fight by KO.
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