UFC 142's Anthony Johnson out to see if middleweights are the 'real deal'

As much as Anthony Johnson would like to think he's a middleweight, he's still moonlighting.

"I'm out here to get this experience that I need right now at 185 (pounds) and see if these guys are the real deal like they say they are," Johnson today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Vitor Belfort (20-9 MMA, 9-4 UFC), whom Johnson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) faces in the co-main event of Saturday's UFC 142 event, offers the first taste of experience fighting in a division most say he should have occupied years ago.

Of course, he'd like to see how he stacks up against the rest of the top-tier.

"Sure, I'll fight Anderson," Johnson said of middleweight champ Silva. "He's a fighter, he's a human, I respect him, and I like to challenge myself. You've got Michael Bisping, Vitor, Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, (Rousimar) Palhares

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