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It’s safe to say Anthony “Rumble” Johnson wasted his first opportunity against Daniel Cormier. The man who is built like a Mack Truck and has somehow fought at 170, 185 and now 205 pounds had nothing left in the tank once Cormier was able to take him to the ground back in 2015.

Johnson looked utterly confused by Cormier’s wrestling, failing to ever break free once Cormier gained the dominant position. He was left battered and cut after the second round, seemingly struggling to catch his breathe while slowly making it to his corner. After a wild shot to start the third, he was on the ground again with no way of stopping Cormier’s wrestling before getting choked out.

So why now? Nothing in Johnson’s game has really changed. He’s 5-1 in his last six fights, all wins coming via KO/TKO. We haven’t seen the more well-rounded ability to justify that if Cormier gets him to the ground again that this fight is a wrap.

But what we do know is that he’s gotten even stronger. Those punches he can deliver come with a little extra when they land on the chin. Just look at how Cormier reacted in the first round when he got caught with one.

via GIPHY

That was just 30 seconds into the fight. Cormier popped right back up, knowing that if Johnson was able to get into the guard, it was a done deal. 

Johnson’s style is what many fans want to see from the champions of the sport: A heavy-handed guy who will throw with anyone and can be a bit reckless. Cormier, meanwhile, brings a style that many fans get bored with quickly. 

The light heavyweight division needs Johnson to win this fight on Saturday to earn more respect from the fans. Despite what Jon Jones was able to do for the division -- and the sport -- since he’s been gone, 205 has been considered the weakest division in UFC.

If Rumble is able to keep this fight standing up and trade with Cormier, this could be over in a flash. But if Cormier takes this fight to the ground, we’re in for another grind it out brawl.