Anthony Johnson‘s UFC 142 weight-cutting fiasco remains one of the worst in the promotion’s history. Moving up to middleweight was meant to ease his scale difficulties, but he ended up 11 pounds over the limit. Dana White was upset, and Vitor Belfort, who had spent months preparing, was suddenly thrust into an unfair scenario. He had two options: refuse to fight and walk away with nothing or fight an opponent with a significant weight advantage and at least receive a portion of his money. So, what was his first reaction to it? Well, we finally have an answer.
Old footage from that night shows the exact moment head honcho Dana White told Belfort of the problem. “Anthony Johnson isn’t going to make weight. He isn’t even going to come close,” White told him. “Anthony Johnson is so f—— far from making weight, it’s not even funny. If you accept that he can come in and not make weight, and you make weight, you get 20% of his purse.” However, despite the evident disadvantage, Belfort responded, “You know, that’s my job,” as he then proceeded to chew his towel. Why did he do that? Well, we’ll get to that later.
Back then, it was a professional attitude that contrasted sharply with Johnson’s failure. And on UFC 142, ‘The Phenom’ made him pay. Johnson started strongly, hoping to finish quickly, but when he began to fade, Belfort took over. After a failed takedown attempt, the Brazilian took his back and quickly sank in a rear-naked choke to secure the victory. If you thought that the fight was the climax, the fallout was even more dramatic. ‘Rumble’ was immediately cut from the UFC, forcing him to rebuild his career elsewhere before returning years later in 2014 as a light-heavyweight contender.
January 14, 2023, Las Vegas, NV, LAS VEGAS, NV, United States: LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 14: Dana White meets with the press following Vegas 67 at UFC Apex for UFC Fight Night – Vegas 67 – Strickland vs Imavov – Event on January 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, United States. Las Vegas, NV United States – ZUMAp175 20230114_zsa_p175_023 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
Johnson challenged for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship twice but was defeated both times. In contrast, Belfort went away from the fight with his salary, his pride intact, and another victory under his belt. He later achieved major victories over fighters including Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson. He fought top contenders, including a title fight against Chris Weidman, before retiring after a loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 in May 2018. But while the two did achieve a lot in their careers, this moment was so iconic that fans still can’t stop talking about it.
Fans share their reaction to resurfaced Dana White footage
The resurfaced clip of Dana White conveying the news to Vitor Belfort regarding Anthony Johnson’s missing weight generated a wide range of opinions from fans. While the scenario was upsetting, Belfort’s surprise response stole the show. Remember when we talked about him biting a towel? It’s time to address that now. Belfort continuously kept biting down on a towel after White gave the news, creating an odd and amusing moment for fans. “Dana’s face is just pure ‘WTF is happening,’” one fan joked.
Another fan commented, “Dana was probably like, ‘Dude, I just said he didn’t make weight; get a glass of water or something.’” But, as strange as it appeared, there was a purpose for it: fighters reducing weight experience extreme dry mouth but are unable to drink water, so chewing on a towel or ice keeps their mouths from feeling like sandpaper. In fact, after being nervous about delivering the news, even the head honcho must’ve had a dry mouth. So, some fans commented on what the UFC CEO might’ve thought at the moment, “Dana was like, Can I get a bite lol?’” and “Dana is about to say, “Can I get a bite of that?” Lmfao.”
Aside from the hilarity, the clip has sparked a serious issue regarding how the UFC handles fighters who miss weight. Many fans believe that 20% of the purse is insufficient punishment, particularly for someone who missed weight by such a large margin as Johnson did. “Only 20% is wild. It should be at least 50% fixed,” one fan insisted. Others pointed out the unjust scenario Belfort was placed in. “If he doesn’t take the fight, he doesn’t get paid for months of training. If he does, he’s fighting a guy who’s fresh, hydrated, and much heavier. How is that fair?” The entire situation highlights how cruel the fight game can be, as Belfort had to pick between losing money and fighting a man with a significant weight advantage.
Fans could all agree on one thing: Dana White handled the situation in his own unique way. Whether you love him or hate him, he’s always the one that confronts these issues full on. “Kudos to Dana for personally breaking the news,” one fan said. Another fan simply stated, “I’m not a fan of the guy, but you gotta respect that he’s always there no matter the situation.” Years later, people are still talking about this moment—not just because it was ridiculous, but also because it covered many of the challenges that come with being a professional fighter. What do you think? Was it an unjust situation for Belfort? Let us know in the comments.
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