The world of combat sports is in mourning. Popular MMA fighter Anthony Johnson, who fought in the UFC and Bellator, died of organ failure

The MMA world is in mourning. At the age of thirty-eight, fighter Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, who had been struggling with long-term health issues, passed away. The cause of death was organ failure following a rare immune system disorder.

Anthony Johnson was quite well known to the combat sports public. He fought for four years in the UFC, even came close to a title shot, but failed to win it.

He won 23 fights in his career, losing only six. He has beaten, for example, Glover Teixeira, who will face the Czech champion Jiri Prochazka in less than a month.

He twice walked away defeated from fights with legend Daniel Cormier, and after his last loss, he moved to rival Bellator, where he defeated Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros in May 2021.

That fight was also his last. At least in the cage, as the one of his life was still ahead of him. He subsequently did not enter the Bellator title fight due to health issues.

They were not specified, but it’s now clear why the fight didn’t happen. Rumble died at the age of 38 from the effects of organ failure.

The reason was a rare immune system disorder. Several figures from the world wrestling scene have commented on the death, including UFC boss Dana White.

“He was a great kid. He was always putting on entertaining fights and like few fighters had the ability to knock out his opponent with one punch. He was a good man and I send my condolences to his family,” he said via social media.

“Rest in peace, brother. For someone who scared a lot of people, Anthony Johnson was a caring man. From random text messages to reactions after defeats.

What a man he was, Rumble will be missed. Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. Terrible news,” said his two-time overcomer Cormier.

Source: Mirror, MMA Shorties, MMA Junkie