Två veckor innan fredagens match mot Cheick Kongo på Bellator 161 fick Tony Johnson ett hemskt samtal om att hans lillebror hade begått självmord.
Ett par veckor innan fredagens match mot Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) som kommer att bli en av hans största matcher i karriären drabbades Tony Johnson (10-2) av en familjetragedi. Mitt under träningen i Tennessee fick han ett samtal om att hans lillebror William Johnson hade begått självmord i Cleveland där han bodde.
Omedelbart samlades hans familj för att ta hand om allt omkring. Men trots sorgen och att behöva vara en stöttepelare så blev han mer motiverad för att gå matchen.
”It’s definitely more motivating, man,” berättade Johnson för MMA Fighting. ”It teaches me, you may have problems but somebody may have way worse problems. So at this stage, enjoy life. It’s definitely motivation, and it’s a wake up call just to enjoy life and cherish today. You’re never promised tomorrow. That’s what I’m doing now. I’m enjoying life, and I’m taking it all in.”
Precis som det ofta brukar vara så var det ingen som märkte av den depression som till slut tog hans liv. När alla upptäckte det var det för sent.
”No one knew. He was hiding his tears behind the smile. But yes, he was depressed, and nobody knew through that. We talked every once in a while, but not as much as we should have. But at the end of the day, it’s unfortunate. It was a tragedy, but it’s life. That’s life, and life will hit you hard. Nothing hits you as hard as life. I have to find the strength to just get up and keep going.”
Men han är redan redo för matchen.
”You know, I have a job to do, and I’ve got to go step in the cage with Cheick Kongo. I closed that chapter of my life last week, and I’m ready for this challenge in front of me.”
Om han hade velat så hade han kunnat dra sig ur matchen. Bellator visade mycket förståelse för hans situation men han har inte tvekat en enda sekund på att gå matchen. Han kommer att gå in i buren med självsäkerhet.
”Not one time did I think about not fighting. Bellator was awesome. They said, hey, we understand this tragedy, if you don’t want to fight, we understand. But you don’t get these moments in life very much. And you’ve got to seize the moment no matter what happens. I’m headlining in one of the best organizations in the world. I never thought even one time I’m not going to do this. I just had to get my head right, and get ready for this fight. And I thank Bellator, they’ve been awesome, helping me out. They sent me flowers, and I’ve never been sent flowers before. But I never thought about not fighting, it never crossed my mind once.”
”Last week was the hardest week of my life. That hurt so much personally. There’s nothing that Cheick Kongo can do that will hurt.”
