After losing three consecutive fights, Michael Johnson is in desperate need of a win when he fights Andre Fili this weekend at UFC Lincoln.
After dropping three straight fights for the first time in his ten-year MMA career, Michael Johnson has stated a win at UFC Lincoln this weekend is a must for the sake of his clarity.
Johnson (17-13) hasn’t tasted victory inside the octagon since knocking out Dustin Poirier in September 2016. “The Menace” suffered defeats to top lightweights Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje before losing his featherweight debut to Darren Elkins in January.
The 32-year-old explained why his fight this weekend against Andre Fili is crucial in terms of getting back on track in his career, and kickstarting a run in his new weight class of 145-pounds.
“I definitely need to get in here and get a win, I know that. Not only for the sake of my position, but for my sanity, for one, and for things that I want [in my career] and for things that I’m wanting in life.” Johnson told MMA Fighting. “I have to go in there, I have to get a win, I have to keep progressing. I can’t take any steps back now.”
“I’m still shocked from that (Elkins) fight, how I ended up losing. It’s just like everybody who saw it. I was pretty much having my way with him the whole first round, and I just made a little mistake and that’s our sport, and that’s our world, and it cost me. And I didn’t really recover too well and I rushed out of a spot, so all I take from that is I have to stay focused. I have to believe in my training and believe in myself, and believe in what I can do. I kinda froze up on the ground in that first fight, and that’s not happening anymore.”
Even before his win against last win Poirier, Johnson had dropped consecutive defeats to Nate Diaz and Beneil Dariush, meaning the Missouri native has gone 1-5 in his last six fights. The poor run of form is something Johnson is very much aware of, and he’s hoping to change by getting back on the winner’s circuit this weekend in Lincoln.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s a horrible feeling. Especially coming from winning and then being in a stretch and losing. I’m not used to this feeling. This sport’s lonely enough as it is. It’s even lonelier when you lose.
“Granted, I don’t like to keep any people around me just because I win — I’m very selective in my circle and my group and my support team — but at the end of the day, it’s obvious. When people are around you, you’re winning; when people are not around you, you’re losing. But that’s just the way of the world. The world loves winners.”
UFC Fight Night 135 will take place this Saturday, August 25th, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Exciting lightweights Justin Gaethje and James Vick will headline the card, whilst Johnson and Fili will square off in the co-main event.