Titan Fighting Championship announced today who Anthony “Rumble” Johnson would be facing in his promotional debut at TFC 22. The former UFC welterweight and middleweight will take on another former UFC middleweight in David Branch. The two will headline the night’s card on Friday May 25 live from Memorial Hall in Kansas City.
“Anthony Johnson and David Branch are two of the most aggressive, powerful and athletic middleweights in the world, and to have this as the main event of Titan 22 is a defining moment for this brand,” said Titan FC CEO Joe Kelly.
Johnson (10-4) fought at UFC 142 against Vitor Belfort where he missed weight for his middleweight debut and was released after being submitted in the first round. Johnson was considered a top welterweight but moved up to 185 lbs. because of weight issues in the past. Shockingly the move still didn’t solve the problem and it cost him his job. Johnson has brought in JC Santana, strength and conditioning expert and founder of the world-renowned Institute of Human Performance to work on a new weight, diet and strength and conditioning program leading up to his TFC debut.
“I have a lot of respect for David Branch for taking this fight, but it doesn’t really matter who’s in the cage with me, because the fight’s going to end the same way – with him on the floor and me standing up,” said Johnson.
Branch (8-2) has won his last two bouts since being released by the UFC after a loss to Rousimar Palhares in March of last year. The black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie and three-time Pan American champion had a record of 2-2 inside the Octagon, holding wins over Rich Attonito and Tomasz Drwal. Along with the UFC, Branch has also fought for Bellator and like Johnson will also be making his TFC debut.
The Titan Fighting Championship 22 main card will air live HDNet starting at 7pm PT / 10 pm ET.
