Former NFL stars Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and James Harrison are scheduled to fight in an MMA exhibition bout in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl in February.
The duo confirmed the bout on X, formerly known as Twitter, though the length of the exhibition appears to be in question.
“I’m fighting James Harrison in an exhibition MMA format 3-round bout in New Orleans before the Super Bowl,” Johnson, a former star wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, wrote on X on Wednesday. “I’m so excited.”
Harrison, who was a star linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, responded by telling Johnson the bout is five rounds, but Johnson is confident it won’t go the distance.
“I’m gonna beat your (expletive) in Round 1, so don’t worry about the other four,” Johnson said. “I’m standing on business.”
This is not Johnson’s first foray into the ring. He went the distance, despite getting knocked down, in a four-round fight against mixed martial artist and boxer Brian Maxwell in 2021 as part of the undercard for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Logan Paul bout. No winner was declared.
Johnson was a six-time Pro Bowl receiver and was named All-Pro twice during his 11-year NFL career. He spent the first 10 years with the Bengals and finished his career in 2011 with the New England Patriots. He had 766 receptions for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns in 166 games.
Harrison spent almost all of his 15 NFL seasons with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls and being named to the Pro Bowl five times and an All-Pro twice. He retired after playing one game with the Patriots in 2017, and he played for the Bengals in 2013. Harrison had 84 1/2 sacks and eight interceptions in 193 career games.
