‘Rumble’ Calls for Daniel Cormier to Be Stripped of LHW Title in Official Appeal to NYSAC

As expected, Anthony Johnson has filed an appeal with the New York State Athletic Commission following his loss to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210.

“Rumble,” who submitted to a Cormier rear-naked choke 3:37 into the second round of their light heavyweight championship bout in Buffalo, N.Y., on April 8, is asking that “DC” be fined 20 percent of his purse and stripped of the 205-pound belt if the champion is not able to convincingly explain his controversial weigh-in under oath. ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto first reported Johnson’s formal appeal on Thursday.

“After such sworn testimony, if Mr. Cormier could not, would not, or did not satisfactorily provide an evidence and fact based explanation for his conduct, then he should be disciplined for his action by the NYSAC to preserve the integrity of the sport,” the appeal read. “Should Mr. Cormier be subject to discipline, while it is clear he could be suspended for his actions, at a minimum, Daniel Cormier should be ordered to pay 20 [percent] of his fight purse to Anthony Johnson and should be stripped of his UFC men’s light heavyweight title for failing to make weight on April 8, 2017.”

At weigh-ins on April 7, Cormier initially tipped the scales at 206.2 pounds. Less than three minutes later, a stripped-down Cormier checked in at 205 pounds while putting his hands on the towel held in front of him. In the appeal, Johnson’s team takes issue with the fact that no NYSAC member questioned Cormier regarding his ability to lose the remaining 1.2 pounds necessary in such a short period of time.

Meanwhile, Cormier himself professed ignorance regarding the towel-grabbing technique and claimed he was simply trying to prevent himself from being exposed.

“I didn’t want you guys to see my junk,” Cormier explained to assembled media after weigh-ins. “What does doing that [grabbing the towel] do? I don’t understand. It’s not something I’ve done before. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t show my junk.”

Johnson unexpectedly announced his retirement following the loss to Cormier, claiming that he would have made the same decision with a victory at UFC 210.