Lavar Johnson is a baaaad man.
Although he’s a relative unknown to casual fight fans, Johnson proved why he is one of MMA‘s most exciting heavyweights by destroying Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3.
Johnson rocked Barry late in the first round with a kick to the head, then rushed forward, backing Barry into the cage. As Barry tried to gather himself, punch after punch rained down on him. Johnson repeatedly hit him with swooping right and left hooks and uppercuts, eventually forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the massacre after Barry crumbled to the mat.
It was Johnson’s second straight knockout after knocking out Joey Beltran in similar fashion in January, making him 2-0 in the UFC (17-5 overall) after the UFC/Strikeforce heavyweight merger.
The fight was wildly exciting, providing the UFC with a perfect start to their third event on Fox and network TV. The win should also propel the 34-year-old Johnson to more high-profile fights.
Although he’s horribly unbalanced in terms of well-roundness, Johnson is one of the most entertaining fighters on the planet. He’s got bombs in his hands and he’s not afraid to throw them, teeing off on opponents at will.
In his 22 professional fights, exactly zero have gone the distance. And while his complete lack of a ground game makes MMA purists cringe, his brawling style is incredibly fan-friendly.
Even if he’s too one-dimensional to become a serious heavyweight contender in the UFC, Johnson is a great addition to the division. It’s impossible to look away during his fights, and he’s got the ability to beat anyone with his knockout power.
Keep your eyes on Lavar Johnson, because he’s well on his way to becoming one of the most popular heavyweights in the UFC.
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