Anthony Johnson's quick knockout causes rumbling throughout UFC's 205-pound division

(This story first appeared in Tuesday’s USA TODAY.)

Striking coach Henri Hooft saw something different in UFC matchmaker Joe Silva’s eyes when he walked into the octagon after Anthony Johnson‘s 44-second knockout of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at this past Saturday’s UFC on FOX 12 in San Jose, Calif.

Usually, Silva gives him a pat “good fight” on his rounds of the cage following a contest, Hooft said, but this time, there was something new.

In fact, everybody in the octagon was looking at Johnson a little different.

“All the people were looking (at us) like, ‘Oh, what happened?'” Hooft told USA TODAY Sports. “It was a really brutal knockout, of course. The way he looked at me, I saw he was like, ‘Wow.'”

It was hard not to share that word after Johnson’s performance in the co-headliner of the FOX-televised bout. Fired two and a half years ago by the UFC for failing to make weight three different times, the 30-year-old “Rumble” set the UFC record for sub-minute KOs at four.

Three of those were at welterweight, where earlier he displayed the same power but couldn’t make the limit and was angrily booted from the promotion.

The same UFC executives that blasted Johnson (18-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) are now calling him a man to watch at 205 pounds. After wins over Nogueira (21-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and a return decision over Phil Davis in April, he is outranked only by ex-champs and current title contenders at No. 6 on USA TODAY/MMAjunkie’s MMA light heavyweight list.

For his part, Johnson is trying to take the turnaround in stride.

“”I’m trying my best to stay humble and do my job,” said Johnson, who, post-win, attacked a hamburger, “some alcohol,” and gummy bears – his admitted addiction.

At the same time, he isn’t afraid to say he’s close to the finish of a race to unseat champ Jon Jones.

“Honestly, I think the guys right now that are capable of beating Jones are me, Daniel Cormier and (Alexander Gustafsson),” Johnson added.

Hooft, an architect of Johnson’s renewal since 2011 at the Blackzilians camp in Florida, Hooft said he would like to see his pupil further develop his skills against a top-10 opponent. Johnson agreed, saying he will eventually fight everyone at 205 pounds.

They also said they would sign on for a short-notice title shot if an injury brings another scratch to the champ’s next scheduled appearance at UFC 178 in September. This past week, a knee injury cost Alexander Gustafsson a rematch with Jones, who now is scheduled to meet Daniel Cormier.

“If they wanted me to fight tomorrow, I’d be ready and excited about it,” Johnson said.

Already, Johnson is setting his sights on the future. Soon, he said he’ll be bringing taller sparring partners into the gym – a move aimed preparing for the 6-foot-4 Jones and 6-foot-5 Gustafsson.

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 12, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

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