Lion Fight 34's Anthony Njokuani now focused on muay Thai, but still not done with MMA

MMA may not be his sole focus anymore, but WEC and UFC vet Anthony Njokuani is not retiring just yet.

Set to face Chris Harrington in a muay Thai bout at Lion Fight 34 this Friday, Njokuani clarified that, while the lack of opportunities may have shifted his attention toward other possibilities, he is still active and planning on going back-and-forth between striking matches and MMA outings.

“That’s what a lot of people think,” Njokuani told MMAjunkie Radio. “But I’ve just been focused on teaching and just trying to get my name out there more, versus just focusing on fighting, because I also want to have that, you know, as background, as something to fall on just in case.

“But yes, I’m still fighting. It’s just that a lot of fights last year and the year before that weren’t coming in as much as they should have. But no, I’m not retired, people. I’m still fighting. I’m going to continue fighting until my body says I’m done.”

The Nigerian-born fighter started off his combat sports career with kickboxing, and, over 15 years later, is still passionate about it. Which is why, at 36, he’s willing to take the substantial pay cuts in relation to MMA – not to mention the increased body damage – to keep pursuing it.

“It’s just because of love for it,” Njokuani said. “Money is not the issue for me. I love doing muay Thai. I love striking.

“I really want to just do this fight and then go into Bellator kickboxing. That’s one of my main focuses because I do want to check that out and then go from there – because right now my main focus is muay Thai. But then I do want to fluctuate back and forth.”

Njokuani, who’s gone 0-5 in his last five MMA scraps, was last seen in a cage this past June, when he lost a unanimous decision to Leonardo Mafra at Final Fight Championship. He’s faced names like former UFC lightweight champs Rafael dos Anjos and Benson Henderson, as well as 155-pound contender Edson Barboza, during a combined 15-fight WEC-UFC stint.

In spite of not having an MMA scrap in sight, Njokuani says he is still honing his wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills – albeit more lightly during the striking-focused camp for his Friday scrap against Harrington. As far as that goes, however, don’t expect too many details from Njokuani.

“I don’t know, because I really don’t watch videos on my guys,” Njokuani said. “So I haven’t seen anything of him. I just go off what Nick (Blomgren) says, and Nick says he’s a tough guy, (and that) he has minimal skills in muay Thai but he’s a good muay Thai fighter.”

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