Anthony Johnson's return to UFC due to win streak – and need for fight for Phil Davis

Anthony Johnson‘s return to the UFC had plenty to do with his big winning streak away from the promotion.

But his next opponent may have had a little to do with him coming back, as well. After “Rumble” knocked out Mike Kyle this past month at World Series of Fighting 8, the instant speculation was that he’d be headed back to the UFC. And that came to fruition on Monday.

But on Wednesday, UFC President Dana White, who announced Johnson’s return, said the timing was perfect to get Johnson back in the fold because it also helped get Phil Davis his next fight.

“Obviously the kid’s been on a big win streak – he’s won six fights in a row,” White told FOX Sports 1's “Fox Sports Live.” “He’s an interesting light heavyweight now. And we needed somebody to fight Phil Davis, too. Phil Davis has been flapping out in the wind here. All the other fights in the light heavyweight division are done – guys are either fighting or hurt or something else. So it made sense to bring him back and it’s an interesting, exciting fight.”

Johnson (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will meet Davis (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC 172, which takes place April 26 at Baltimore Arena in Baltimore. The main card, most likely including Johnson-Davis, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Johnson was released by the UFC a little more than two years ago after badly missing weight for a middleweight fight against Vitor Belfort. The fight went on at a 197-pound catchweight, but Belfort submitted Johnson with a first-round rear-naked choke. The missed weight was the third strike for Johnson, who twice missed the mark while fighting as a welterweight. But even moving up to 185 pounds, he couldn’t hit the target, missing by 11 pounds.

But he’s been on a tear at light heavyweight and heavyweight, the last three wins coming under the WSOF banner. While in the UFC, Johnson has six of his seven wins by knockout, and his resume includes wins over Dan Hardy and Charlie Brenneman. But he’s been susceptible to submissions, tapping out in three of his four career losses to Belfort, Josh Koscheck and Rich Clementi.

White may not have the same concerns about Johnson making weight now that he’s not fighting at welterweight and instead is a whopping 35 pounds north of that at light heavyweight.

“If he can’t make 205 pounds, forget about it – I don’t even know what to tell him,” White said.

Davis has been on the sidelines since an August decision win over Lyoto Machida in Rio de Janeiro in a fight that most major media outlets scored in Machida’s favor. But no matter, Davis ran his unbeaten streak to four fights since the lone loss of his career to Rashad Evans at UFC on FOX 2.

After that setback, the four-time Division-I All American wrestler had a no-contest against Wagner Prado after an accidental eye poke, but he stopped him with a second-round submission in Rio at UFC 153. He then picked up decision wins over Vinny Magalhaes and Machida at UFC 159 and UFC 163, respectively.

For the latest on UFC 172, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.