UFC's Anthony Johnson agrees to counseling, women's charity donation after gym incident

[La Paix]

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Anthony Johnson will seek counseling and make a donation to a Florida-based women's charity after an incident with a woman at his gym and a subsequent angry Facebook status last week, the UFC announced Monday.

In a statement, the UFC said that it was "extremely disappointed" with Johnson's recent behavior. Johnson apologized to the woman for the incident and the "insensitive" social media post afterward, the UFC said. According to the UFC, the woman accepted the apology and wanted to put things behind her.

Last Tuesday, Johnson posted a nasty rant on Facebook, calling the woman "ugly" and saying she looked like a "bag of dry dog food." "Rumble," a UFC light heavyweight contender, was angry because the woman was allegedly stretching near where people were lifting at the gym. Most concerning was that Johnson referenced picking up the woman's yoga mat from underneath her and throwing it.

Johnson, 31, apologized one day laterand the UFC said it would be launching a third-party investigation into the incident.

UFC's Anthony Johnson agrees to counseling, women's charity donation after gym incident - MMA Fighting

 

[ChaosOverkill]

lol

 

[ThatOneDude]

He should offer to train her for a year so she doesn't took like a bag of dried dog food lol

 

[kingdazy]

ha!
a "counselor" is probably not a bad move for him, in general.
and a social media manager would be a good idea.

 

[jason73]

this is a crock of shit.the ufc doesnt give a damn about domestic violence issues.if they were serious in the least anthony johnson wouldnt be fighting on sept 5.its all smoke and mirrors from them.they want to look like they did something without actually doing anything.i dont think he should be banned for life or anything but god damn the guy is a habitual line stepper.

 

[jason73]

Following a thorough investigation by a third-party law firm, UFC® is extremely disappointed with Anthony Johnson’s recent actions, as the organization does not tolerate behavior of this nature from any athletes under contract with the UFC. Johnson personally apologized to the woman he verbally offended at a Florida gym last week and for the insensitive comments he made on social media afterwards. The woman accepted Johnson’s apology and indicated a desire to put this unfortunate matter behind them. In order to ensure these situations do not happen in the future, Johnson has agreed to participate in counseling and UFC will support him through this process. Johnson has also agreed to make a donation to a Florida-based women’s charity.

Johnson will face Jimi Manuwa at UFC 191®: JOHNSON vs. DODSON 2 on Saturday, September 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.


say your sorry and pay 500 bucks to a charity and all is forgiven.that is literally the least they could possibly do without actually doing nothing at all

 

[ChaosOverkill]

"Well he donated to a women's charity and saw a counsellor, I'm convinced"

-Derpnation

 

[Zeph]

"Well he donated to a women's charity and saw a counsellor, I'm convinced"

-Derpnation

I hope he genuinely is going to see a counselor, it seems like that that is the only way he is going to fix these issues. The donation is clearly a PR move, but it is a nice gesture, assuming it isn't $100. Hopefully he will actually learn from the counselor and start counting to ten, or something.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

I hope he genuinely is going to see a counselor, it seems like that that is the only way he is going to fix these issues. The donation is clearly a PR move, but it is a nice gesture, assuming it isn't $100. Hopefully he will actually learn from the counselor and start counting to ten, or something.

Yeah Tiger was supposed to go through Rehab for sex or whatever too, the people that were there say he treated it like a farce and everyone else there below him. Seemed to be enough for his fans though, and to then cheat on Lindsay Vonn too afterward.

But I suppose something is better than nothing but I think Johnson is going to end up needing some freedom taken away to learn this lesson he seems to be hell bent on avoiding, Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Zeph]

Yeah Tiger was supposed to go through Rehab for sex or whatever too, the people that were there say he treated it like a farce and everyone else there below him. Seemed to be enough for his fans though, and to then cheat on Lindsay Vonn too afterward.

But I suppose something is better than nothing but I think Johnson is going to end up needing some freedom taken away to learn this lesson he seems to be hell bent on avoiding, Hope I'm wrong.

Well I'm not going to condemn someone for the actions of another.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

Well I'm not going to condemn someone for the actions of another.

didn't say to. Counselling away anger towards women seems *shrug* the minimum idea and hoping on something that seems chronically getting legal for him at least up until this run, to be contained. Lofty goals. I don't think his prior problems were wrapped up and this unique and new. He has some issue going back a ways and I have to think that counseling was part of the no contest or somewhere in his legal process, and after reading how the nhl system totally failed in drug counseling. Leaves me highly skeptical of that word.

I'll believe MMA is serious when the conversation expands to ever include Trujilo and the like or a consistent policy. Seems token, but again ZEPH I'm not telling you how to view it, you seemed to want to convince me my words were indicating a not sufficient serious view of this solution but that's how I see it in the cynical eye rolling times we live in.

May the best case occur for once and surprise me. Would be different and interesting at least. Bed time for me.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

But in reality there is not much else they can suggest at this point that much is true, but it also seems like leaning tree branches against a time bomb to get it out of sight for as long they can. Hope they get lucky.

My sleep meds are making me loopy though to point cohesion fading fast bbl

 

[Zeph]

didn't say to. Counselling away anger towards women seems *shrug* the minimum idea and hoping on something that seems chronically getting legal for him at least up until this run, to be contained. Lofty goals. I don't think his prior problems were wrapped up and this unique and new. He has some issue going back a ways and I have to think that counseling was part of the no contest or somewhere in his legal process, and after reading how the nhl system totally failed in drug counseling. Leaves me highly skeptical of that word.

I'll believe MMA is serious when the conversation expands to ever include Trujilo and the like or a consistent policy. Seems token, but again ZEPH I'm not telling you how to view it, you seemed to want to convince me my words were indicating a not sufficient serious view of this solution but that's how I see it in the cynical eye rolling times we live in.

May the best case occur for once and surprise me. Would be different and interesting at least. Bed time for me.

I'm not saying it is going to work, but to say it won't work because Tiger didn't take his seriously isn't giving Rumble a fair chance.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

I'm not saying it is going to work, but to say it won't work because Tiger didn't take his seriously isn't giving Rumble a fair chance.

The tiger comparison is more one of a bunch of athletes that show the counselling solution at this level and moving target of management of sport is often pure surface scratch label and farcical rather than properly intensive. But maybe I'm wrong and this is a new beginning for more than just ped policies. Peace out

 

[kneeblock]

I like the counseling idea. I'd like it to be long term and include volunteer work. I believe there is hope for perpetrators if they get deep into themselves, but it can take quite awhile.

The donation is almost insulting.

 

[jason73]

i hope the counciling is more serious than jon joneses rehab

 

[Sweets]

If it was some dude doing yoga in the weight area and AJ threw his mat away would anyone be getting their knickers in a twist? Doubt it... Yes I know it's a woman so it's different but in reality it could have been a 200 lb dude and he would be equally under threat.

Let's not loose sight of the fact that this woman was a dick head, even if AJ wildly overreacted.

 

[dacofty]

Im a fan of Johnson's but his previous history with DV and his recent outburst should be handled with something alittle more than a statement of disappointment and a fine. The UFC never ceases to amaze me with their actions

 

[Narcosynthesis]

He should be cut. There is no excuse for assaulting a yoga mat.

 

[Weidman's right nut]

I can't help myself....I am trying but I can't not say anything......why the hell does everything come back to being the UFC's fault, like this is only happening in the general world of MMA and specifically the UFC......the haters will do anything to bring things not even remotely close to the UFC into the realm of it being their fault for this or that.
This issue isn't confined to the UFC or even in sports, this is an elitist issue, whether it be actors, musicians, athletes......stop trying to blame the UFC for everything.....China's economy is crashing......somehow, some way some of you will find a way to blame Dana

 

[delightone]

I came a cross this post on reddit i'm pretty sure this @KingConorsChampionCuckold postin under a alias.

Mixed signals are over the place, you try and do the right thing and help an obese lady find the stretching area and even carry her yoga mat for her. Next thing you know you gotta go to counseling, the fucks going on ?

 

[jason73]

I can't help myself....I am trying but I can't not say anything......why the hell does everything come back to being the UFC's fault, like this is only happening in the general world of MMA and specifically the UFC......the haters will do anything to bring things not even remotely close to the UFC into the realm of it being their fault for this or that.
This issue isn't confined to the UFC or even in sports, this is an elitist issue, whether it be actors, musicians, athletes......stop trying to blame the UFC for everything.....China's economy is crashing......somehow, some way some of you will find a way to blame Dana

did you even watch TUF china bro?

 

[dacofty]

Whats sad is that the UFC seems to be running scared to cut guys, they know they will just go to Bellator and help build that organization up. I think they will hold onto Johnson and shelf him for a while and punish him with no income coming in. I think they wouldnt cut a main name even if he was involved in a hit and run with drugs...wait nope they wouldnt

 

[ChaosOverkill]

I can't help myself....I am trying but I can't not say anything......why the hell does everything come back to being the UFC's fault, like this is only happening in the general world of MMA and specifically the UFC......the haters will do anything to bring things not even remotely close to the UFC into the realm of it being their fault for this or that.
This issue isn't confined to the UFC or even in sports, this is an elitist issue, whether it be actors, musicians, athletes......stop trying to blame the UFC for everything.....China's economy is crashing......somehow, some way some of you will find a way to blame Dana

If you're talking to me, who hates Dana like a disease, yep I admit it, he's a personified disease to me, it's my right, my reasons and that's that. But I never blamed him or Zuffa here, their hands are tied but the longer they let Trujilo and Chope etc. and the array of treatments hang over their head and never address a consistency issue the more likely it will come back at them at some point in this topic which so long as men date women and stupid people are born will never end. I used MMA overall needing the better policy and compared it to other sports and athletes as you said, it isn't limited to them.

This one is not on him or Zuffa, but anyone who thinks it ends here for Johnson are fooling themselves.

 

[Weidman's right nut]

If you're talking to me, who hates Dana like a disease, yep I admit it, he's a personified disease to me, it's my right, my reasons and that's that. But I never blamed him or Zuffa here, their hands are tied but the longer they let Trujilo and Chope etc. and the array of treatments hang over their head and never address a consistency issue the more likely it will come back at them at some point in this topic which so long as men date women and stupid people are born will never end. I used MMA overall needing the better policy and compared it to other sports and athletes as you said, it isn't limited to them.

This one is not on him or Zuffa, but anyone who thinks it ends here for Johnson are fooling themselves.

I wasn't directing my comments at any one person. I get it people HATE Dana, he has been screwing things up a lot lately, but all I am saying is, it's not all on him and he/Zuffa do still do a lot of good for the sport