Ex-Bengals star to fight Steelers legend in MMA bout before Super Bowl

Former Cincinnati Bengals great Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson posted on X Wednesday that he’s fighting former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison in an exhibition MMA-format bout in New Orleans before the Super Bowl in February 2025.

Johnson said the fight is scheduled for three rounds. Harrison, who played for the Bengals in 2013, said it’s scheduled for five rounds.

Harrison and Johnson weren’t teammates with the Bengals; Johnson’s final season in Cincinnati was 2010.

Johnson, who was inducted into the Bengals’ Ring of Honor last September, got knocked down by mixed martial artist and boxer Brian Maxwell during their exhibition bout in June 2021.

Harrison and Johnson are both 46 years old. During their NFL playing careers, Harrison outweighed Johnson by about 50 pounds.

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