UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Anthony Johnson admits Yoel Romero’s withdrawal from their anticipated fight distracted him, but it didn’t derail him from the task at hand at Bellator 258.

Johnson (22-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and Romero (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) were meant to conclude the opening round of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix on Friday in a matchup of powerhouses that had the sport on the edge of its seat. But less than a week out, Romero was pulled due to a failed medical exam stemming from an eye issue.

It threw a wrench into the works for Johnson, who is set to make his return from a four-year retirement from the sport. He didn’t know if he was going to fight after putting in months of hard work, and although the promotion found him a late replacement in Jose Augusto (7-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who he’ll now meet on the card that airs on Showtime from Mohegan Sun Arena, the initial impact of the situation was tough to deal with.

“Frustration, man – I had so much frustration for a day, a day-and-a-half,” Johnson told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “When you got your heart and mind set on something and it doesn’t happen, it can break you. It didn’t break me. It just frustrated me. But that’s in the past. I can’t think about Yoel anymore. I’ve got to focus on Jose.

“Jose’s a monster. I went from a monster that’s older to a monster that’s younger, so it’s not getting any easier for me. But my hat goes off to Jose (for stepping up).”

Johnson is a big favorite in the matchup with Augusto but said he refuses to take his opponent lightly. Replacement fighters have a history of shaking things up with upsets in notable tournaments throughout the course of MMA history, and after plotting his return to the cage for so long, “Rumble” doesn’t want to slip up.

“I’m focused on what I can do,” Johnson said. “I just have to be prepared for whatever he throws at me. I don’t take the man for granted. He has nothing to lose, everything to gain. I know that. As long as I keep that in my head and just be myself, I’ll be fine.”