(This story first appeared in Friday’s USA TODAY .) BALTIMORE – Light heavyweight Anthony Johnson looked pained when asked to elaborate on the mistakes that forced his exit from the UFC a little more than two years ago. He was cut from the promotion for missing weight three times in the welterweight class, for which he sometimes would have to lose 50 pounds during his fight camp to make the division’s 171-pound limit. He once got carried to a weigh-in because he was too weak to walk. The last time he fought in the octagon, facing Vitor Belfort at UFC 142, a doctor forced him to quit cutting weight 24 hours beforehand for safety reasons. Now that he’s fighting 35 pounds — two full weight classes — above welterweight and facing standout Phil Davis (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the co-headliner of Saturday’s UFC 172 (pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET), you’d think Johnson (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) might have a unique perspective on his shortcomings and the lessons that led him back to the octagon for a second chance at UFC gold
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Wiser Anthony Johnson eager to seize second chance at UFC 172 – MMA Junkie