Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson shocked the MMA world when he announced his immediate retirement following his loss to Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 210.
His decision to step away from the sport in the prime of his career was something nobody expected, but Johnson claimed that his team and family knew of his decision in advance.
As Rumble was standing with Joe Rogan waiting to reveal his news, he asked where his coaches were and tried to get them to join him in the Octagon in what was one of the loneliest post-fight interview moments we've seen in the UFC.
At the start of this clip you can see Johnson turn around and ask "Where's Henri?" to the one member of his team that joined him after the fight.
It was a genuinely sad moment, so where was he?
Henri Hooft, Johnson's main coach, was nowhere to be seen and it has since emerged that he may have left due to being frustrated at Johnson's inability to stick to his gameplan.
Johnson initiated the wrestling with Cormier, something he was repeatedly advised not to do as we know from the transcribed corner audio that has emerged after the fight.
MMAJunkie.com posted the transcription that repeatedly shows Hooft's frustration with his fighter.
During the first round Johnson's two coaches could not understand what they were seeing:
Hooft: This is stupid.
Voice: Why is he wrestling him?
Hooft: (Expletive) it, man. Just get off the cage.
Voice: Get out of there.
Voice: Why isn’t he listening?
(Johnson and Cormier are broken up by referee John McCarthy, and Johnson lands kicks.)
Voice: He’s tired already, DC. He doesn’t need to do this.
Voice: Why isn’t he listening?
Hooft: I don’t know why he’s doing that. We have no (expletive) eyes.
And at the break between rounds Hooft directly asked Johnson what he was doing:
Hooft: Can you tell me why you’re wrestling? Now, you’re not going to wrestle. You take your distance. Stay away, two steps away. Why are you so worried about everything? The kicks and the knees are really good, but no kicks. Where’s your hands?
Voice: You’re doing great. Don’t (expletive) wrestle him.
Hooft: If you stand your distance, it’s an easy game. Why make it difficult?
And in the second round, when Cormier finished Johnson via rear-naked-choke, Hooft had clearly had enough:
Hooft: Movement. Athletic. Movement. That’s it. Take your distance.
(Johnson reverses against the cage and goes for another takedown)
Hooft: You need distance.
Hooft: I’m not saying nothing.
(Cormier has Johnson on the mat and is setting up a choke)
Hooft: It’s going the same as last time.
(Johnson submits to Cormier via rear-naked choke)
Hooft: Why, why the (expletive) does this happen every (expletive) time, man? Crazy.
From Henri Hooft's point of view, Johnson totally ignored his instructions and lost the fight after abandoning the game plan, but is that really enough to warrant leaving the man to retire on his own in the octagon?
It's poor form, as Johnson is paying Hooft to be there and support him, but instead he stormed off despite Johnson clearly wanting him in the octagon to share that moment with him.
