Daniel Cormier (19-1-0) is still the UFC light-heavyweight champion after he defeated Anthony "Rumble" Johnson (22-6-0) with a rear-naked choke in the second round.
The story quickly became Johnson, though, as Johnson emotionally announced his retirement from UFC after the loss. Johnson, 33, was the favorite going into the fight, but he cited his desire to try another unspecified career. The retirement is absolutely shocking, as Johnson is in the prime of his fighting career.
Johnson had been one of the most entertaining fighters in UFC, as he gained a reputation as a knockout artist. Weirdly, that wasn't how Johnson approached this fight — much of the first round was spent in the clinch up against the cage, but Johnson was eventually able to get free and score the kick that broke Cormier's nose. It looked like the fight was going to favor Johnson, and Johnson then opened the second round trying to target the injury.
However, the fight eventually found its way back to grappling, favoring Cormier. Eventually Cormier was able to wear Johnson down, take Johnson's back, and finish the fight with a rear-naked choke.
Wow!! @dc_mma keeps the belt at #UFC210!! #ANDSTILL pic.twitter.com/qlBiJJpRun
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2017
Cormier called out Jimi Manuwa and Jon Jones after the fight, and it's expected that Jones will get his chance at the title that was stripped from him last year when he was suspended. Jones is the only one to beat Cormier in his mixed martial arts career.
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