Anthony Johnson not claiming contender tag just yet, but he won't shy away from label

SAN JOSE – Earlier this year, Anthony Johnson was on the outside of the UFC, his future anything but certain. But after one scintillating UFC win over Phil Davis, “Rumble” looks to be a real contender at 205 pounds – though maybe not according to him.

“I can’t even say contender,” Johnson told MMAjunkie. “I just thought I was better than a lot of guys that were in the top-10. I’ll just put it that way.

“The word contender still hasn’t registered in my head and all that stuff, but I’ll take it if you give it to me. But I think my performance made a statement to everybody out there.”

On Saturday, Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) meets Brazilian veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in the co-main event of “UFC on FOX 12: Brown vs. Lawler,” which takes place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and airs on FOX.

Oddsmakers have installed Johnson as nearly a 6-to-1 favorite over the 38-year-old Nogueira, who after a myriad of injuries has fought just once in the past two-and-a-half years. After downing a man some considered the division’s No. 1 contender in Davis, it would be easy to understand if Johnson overlooked “Little Nog,” but “Rumble” insists that’s certainly not the case.

“He’s a fighter; I respect that,” Johnson said. “He can end my night with one punch, submission, anything, just like I can do the same thing with him, so I have to go into this fight having respect. I don’t doubt anything that he can bring.”

With a victory, Johnson could put himself in a unique position in the division. After all, he shot up the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings following his last win and now sits at No. 6 in the weight class. Daniel Cormier gets the next shot at the title, and Alexander Gustafsson shouldn’t be far behind. But injuries and odd happenings are a constant in MMA, and Johnson knows a win would put him in an enviable position.

But Johnson has been through this all before at a time he admits he wasn’t nearly as ready for such a role. This time, he isn’t going to let it slide away.

“I know the performance I had with Phil Davis, I have to have an even better performance with ‘Little Nog,’” Johnson said.

For more on UFC on FOX 12, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.