Last night, in the main event of UFC 210, brick-fisted light heavyweight star Anthony Johnson came up short for a second time to reigning light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, succumbing to a second-round rear-naked choke.
While nothing can be taken away from Cormier’s impressive win, the champ did seem to be helped by Rumble’s bizarre strategy. As one of the most devastating strikers in the game, Rumble’s advantages were clearly at range, on the feet. In a strange twist, however, he opted to attempt to grapple with the former Olympic wrestler Cormier.
Unsurprisingly, Rumble’s deviating from his own strength and fighting Cormier at his own game did not go over well with his corner. In fact, his coaches seemed to be downright livid with his choice to do so.
In corner audio obtained by MMAJunkie.com, Rumble’s coaches – namely Henri Hooft – can be heard scolding Rumble for his bizarre choice to wrestle the champ, pleading with him to revert back to his striking-based strengths.
Here’s the full transcription, via MMAJunkie.com.
Round 1
Voice: Take your time. Nice. Take your time. Don’t take him down.
Hooft: Don’t wrestle him.
advertisement – continue reading belowVoice: If you’re going to go, go single.
Hooft: You don’t have to wrestle him, AJ. Just relax.
Voice: Don’t wrestle him.
Hooft: Get out of there. Get out of there.
advertisement – continue reading belowGrappling coach Neil Melanson: OK, stud. Now, let’s get your hands hot.
Voice: Why is he wrestling him?
Hooft: This is stupid.
Voice: Why is he wrestling him?
Hooft: (Expletive) it, man. Just get off the cage.
Voice: Get out of there.
Voice: Why isn’t he listening?
(Johnson and Cormier are broken up by referee John McCarthy, and Johnson lands kicks.)
Voice: He’s tired already, DC. He doesn’t need to do this.
Voice: Why isn’t he listening?
Hooft: I don’t know why he’s doing that. We have no (expletive) eyes.
Break between Round 1 and Round 2
Hooft: Can you tell me why you’re wrestling? Now, you’re not going to wrestle. You take your distance. Stay away, two steps away. Why are you so worried about everything? The kicks and the knees are really good, but no kicks. Where’s your hands?
Voice: You’re doing great. Don’t (expletive) wrestle him.
Hooft: If you stand your distance, it’s an easy game. Why make it difficult?
Round 2
Hooft: Movement. Athletic. Movement. That’s it. Take your distance.
(Johnson reverses against the cage and goes for another takedown)
Hooft: You need distance.
Hooft: I’m not saying nothing.
(Cormier has Johnson on the mat and is setting up a choke)
Hooft: It’s going the same as last time.
(Johnson submits to Cormier via rear-naked choke)
Hooft: Why, why the (expletive) does this happen every (expletive) time, man? Crazy.
Were you surprised to see Anthony Johnson attempt to wrestle Daniel Cormier at UFC 210? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/9/2017.