CHICAGO – Scott Coker was in complete shock when he heard the unfortunate news of Anthony Johnson’s death.
The Bellator president said it was tough news to process when he got the call that Johnson died this past Sunday from an autoimmune condition. Johnson, a former UFC title challenger, was signed to Bellator in the final chapter of his fighting career and was a marquee name for the promotion’s light heavyweight division.
Like most in the MMA community, Coker was saddened to hear the news.
“It was a shock,” Coker told reporters at the Bellator 288 weigh-ins on Thursday. “Let me tell you, that was not an easy phone call to get. I just love that guy. He was like a gentle giant. People that really got to know him, they all loved him.
“I was getting reports from the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times of Italy, France, anywhere where we were out there promoting fights, the local newspaper did a story on him. I’m starting to collect it, and it was fascinating. The guy was loved around the world. I think he was loved more than he knew, how much fans he had, how much impact he made.”
Although Johnson only fought once under the Bellator banner before falling ill, he and Coker went years back. The Bellator president remembers meeting Johnson in his early fighting days.
“I met Anthony, I’d like to say when his career started,” Coker said. “He was at Cung Lee’s gym fighting at 170. I don’t even think he was in the UFC at that time. He was just in our community and I got to know him and follow his career and we stayed in touch, and when he became a free agent we said, ‘Oh, let’s get this guy because I think he’s a tremendous talent, and I’d really like to work with him.’
“Just getting to work with him in the last couple of years, you never think it’s going to have an ending like this so short. So it was a devastating day. But I’ll tell you what, we’re going to put on a great, kick-ass show for him tomorrow and attribute it to him. Bellator is going to present a big fight card, a great night of fights in honor of ‘Rumble’ tomorrow.”
Johnson was scheduled to fight in the semi-finals of the light heavyweight grand prix in October 2021, but he was forced out due to the illness. Coker knew Johnson was sick, but didn’t know it was life-threatening.
“It’s just unfortunate,” Coker said. “I knew he was in and out of the hospital. I have texts, me and him talking two months ago. He was like, ‘Hey, man. I’m getting ready. I’m out of the hospital. I want to fight.’ And I was like, ‘Hey, there’s more to life than just fighting. Take your time and when you’re ready, and the doctors clear you.’
“I had no idea he was this ill. I think he didn’t know, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll give the family some time and I’ll try to get some more information. But right now, this came as a shock to us and the whole company. Everybody loved that guy. Our entire staff really, really cared about him. It was devastating. It was a big loss.”
