When Anthony Johnson finished Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC on FOX 14, he finished him with a bang. A crushing right hand by “Rumble” sent the Swedish superstar to the canvas, and it took only a few more seconds (and punches) until referee Marc Goddard had to step in for the save.
Since then, a discussion began to spread over the various social media platforms, if or if not Gustafsson got knocked-down by a headbutt rather than a punch. Asked about this at the post-fight press conference, he responded:
“No, I didn’t feel any headbutt… what do I know?”
There’s a slow-motion video making the circuit now, that shows Johnson’s and Gustafsson’s heads collide in the moment the punch connected and the Swede going down immediately.
However, video-footage shot from various other angles does exist and proves that Johnson’s punch also connected flush. Bloody Elbow has collected four video clips, all shot from different camera angles, that show four completely different situations. See for yourself and form your own opinion about this.
Angle 1
From this camera angle we see how Johnson nails Gustafsson with an overhand right and grazes him with a headbutt a moment later. But: The impact of the punch appears to be way bigger than the impact of the headbutt. Judging from this angle: power punch, grazing headbutt.
Angle 2
From this angle we see Johnson connect with his right hand, but can’t see any headbutt at all. Gustafsson apparently drops from the impact of the punch, not from a headbutt. Judging from this angle: power punch, no headbutt.
Angle 3
Link: GIF
This is the angle from the video above, where it appears that Johnson’s head clearly clashes with Gustafsson’s and the headbutt might be responsible for the knockdown. Also it looks like punch and headbutt connect at the same time. Judging from this angle: punch and headbutt connect simultaneously.
Angle 4
Link: GIF
This is footage from the overhead-camera angle. Johnson’s headbutt seems to connect with Gustafsson’s shoulder, while his overhand right lands perfectly behind the left ear. Judging from this angle: power punch, headbutt to the shoulder.