Tonight’s (Sat., September 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 94 is in the books from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, and the card delivered some hard-hitting fireworks at the top. In the main event, Michael “The Menace” Johnson reestablished himself as a top contender at lightweight with a shocking first-round knockout (highlights here) of previously
Tonight’s (Sat., September 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 94 is in the books from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, and the card delivered some hard-hitting fireworks at the top.
In the main event, Michael “The Menace” Johnson reestablished himself as a top contender at lightweight with a shocking first-round knockout (highlights here) of previously surging competitor Dustin Poirier.
In the co-main, Derek Brunson extended his streak to four straight stoppages by flooring Uriah Hall.
Join LowKickMMA.com for the post-fight press conference starting shortly after the main card:
Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson entered UFC Fight Night 94 trending in opposite directions.
Exiting The Ultimate Fighter season 12, there were generally high hopes surrounding Johnson, and for good cause. The young product of the Blackzilians …
Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson entered UFC Fight Night 94 trending in opposite directions.
Exiting The Ultimate Fighter season 12, there were generally high hopes surrounding Johnson, and for good cause. The young product of the Blackzilians camp showed flashes of greatness and, in 2013, managed to put his entire game together, combining his long reach and southpaw stance with his strong wrestling base.
After posting three strong wins over high-level veterans, however, his rise to the top was derailed. Part of that was due to back-to-back losses to BeneilDariush and Nate Diaz. It was also due to a domestic-violence arrest that was followed by a UFC suspension.
In 2016, he is in rebuilding mode, desperately seeking to return to top-10 relevance.
Once upon a time, Poirier was in the same spot. After quickly establishing himself as one of the best featherweights in the UFC’s early featherweight division, he had tough losses to Chan Sung Jung and Cub Swanson. In less than a year, he went from heir apparent to the division to a gatekeeper, with his final job being to put over a hot upstart named ConorMcGregor.
That stretch prompted him to return to the lightweight division, and the results have been beyond positive. Entering Fight Night 94 on a four-fight winning streak over consistently solid competition, he had the opportunity to cement himself as a top-10 name by beating Johnson and could even vault into the title picture with an impressive win.
The fight started slowly, with Poirier and Johnson pawing at one another. Neither man landed anything of note until, in the blink of an eye, Johnson clipped Poirier during an exchange with a clean right hand. He followed him to the ground and unleashed a hellish flurry of hammer fists that badly stiffened Poirier. The ref interjected as quickly as he could from there and officially waved the fight off at 1:35 of Round 1.
It’s a sad turn for Poirier. The Diamond has undergone one of 2016’s most impressive turnarounds and was starting to sniff at a UFC lightweight title shot. He left the featherweight division after being boxed out of the running due to losses to Swanson and McGregor and finds himself in a similar position after Fight Night 94.
Johnson, meanwhile, stops his career’s proverbial bleeding with this win. While he doesn’t necessarily move closer to a title shot in the crowded lightweight division, he does retain his fringe top-10 status and could be in line for bigger fights.
Of course, Johnson’s career has shown time and again that any fighter is one win away from elite status and one loss away from being overrated. It will be worth watching whether it’s this win, or his recent losses, that define him going forward.
The main event of tonight’s (September 17, 2016) UFC Hidalgo saw top-ten lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson do battle. It was an abbreviated affair. The southpaw Johnson began by sticking and moving on the outside. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) finalist flicks kicks to the legs and body. A punch from Johnson opens a
The main event of tonight’s (September 17, 2016) UFC Hidalgo saw top-ten lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson do battle. It was an abbreviated affair.
The southpaw Johnson began by sticking and moving on the outside. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) finalist flicks kicks to the legs and body. A punch from Johnson opens a cut under the right eye of Poirier. “The Diamond” isn’t pulling the trigger much.
A Poirier punching combination is met with heavy fire from Johnson that backs Poirier off. Poirier lands a leg kick. Punching combinations fail to connect for the most part. Poirier throws a right hook, straight left, and a right uppercut, fails to connect cleanly with any of them, and is met with a flush right hook to the jaw from Johnson.
Poirier crashes to his back, and Johnson pounces. A barrage of punches follows from “The Menace”, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to intervene. Johnson comes up giving the Johnny Manziel money sign with both hands.
After walking to his corner, Johnson walks back over to Poirier and raises his arms as he stares down at his fallen foe.
The Final Result: Michael Johnson def. Dustin Poirier by KO at 1:35 of Round 1.
UFC Fight Night 94 takes place live tonight from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, featuring an exciting main event between UFC lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson.
Supporting the card in the co-main event slot this e…
UFC Fight Night 94 takes place live tonight from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, featuring an exciting main event between UFC lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Johnson.
Supporting the card in the co-main event slot this evening is another intriguing fight as former TUF finalist Urijah Hall goes one-on-one with Derek Brunson. In the third fight from the top, Evan Dunham and Rick Glenn will duke it out.
Below is the final lineup for tonight’s show, which airs live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Make sure to join us here at MMANews.com this evening for a complete recap of the UFC Fight Night 94: Poirier vs. Johnson event.
UFC Fight Night 94 Main Card (FS1):
– Dustin Poirier (156) vs. Michael Johnson (154.5)
– Uriah Hall (185.5) vs. Derek Brunson (186)
– Evan Dunham (156) vs. Rick Glenn (154.5)
– Albert Morales (135) vs. Alejandro Perez (135)
– Roan Carneiro (171) vs. Kenny Robertson (170.5)
– Chris Wade (156) vs. Islam Makhachev (155.5)
UFC Fight Night 94 Preliminary Card (FS1):
– Gabriel Benitez (145.5) vs. Sam Sicilia (146)
– Augusto Montano (170.5) vs. Belal Muhammad (170.5)
– Antonio Carlos Jr. (185) vs. Leonardo Augusto Leleco (186)
– Joey Gomez (135) vs. Jose Quinonez (134.5)
UFC Fight Night 94 Preliminary Card (Fight Pass):
– Randy Brown (171) vs. Erick Montano (171)
– Maximo Blanco (145.5) vs. Chas Skelly (146)
On Friday afternoon in Hidalgo, Texas, the fighters scheduled for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 94 event took to the scales for the second time.
Featured below is a complete video archive of the official public weigh-ins for the event that will air…
On Friday afternoon in Hidalgo, Texas, the fighters scheduled for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 94 event took to the scales for the second time.
Featured below is a complete video archive of the official public weigh-ins for the event that will air live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with additional fights and coverage on UFC Fight Pass.
The official UFC Fight Night 94 weigh-ins took place earlier this morning in Hidalgo, with the commission overseeing and recording the fighters on the scale for the event that goes down Saturday night at the State Farm Arena.
UFC Fight Night 94 Main Card (FS1):
– Dustin Poirier (156) vs. Michael Johnson (154.5)
– Uriah Hall (185.5) vs. Derek Brunson (186)
– Evan Dunham (156) vs. Rick Glenn (154.5)
– Albert Morales (135) vs. Alejandro Perez (135)
– Roan Carneiro (171) vs. Kenny Robertson (170.5)
– Chris Wade (156) vs. Islam Makhachev (155.5)
UFC Fight Night 94 Preliminary Card (FS1):
– Gabriel Benitez (145.5) vs. Sam Sicilia (146)
– Augusto Montano (170.5) vs. Belal Muhammad (170.5)
– Antonio Carlos Jr. (185) vs. Leonardo Augusto Leleco (186)
– Joey Gomez (135) vs. Jose Quinonez (134.5)
UFC Fight Night 94 Preliminary Card (Fight Pass):
– Randy Brown (171) vs. Erick Montano (171)
– Maximo Blanco (145.5) vs. Chas Skelly (146)
The UFC rolls on with the second of four cards throughout the month of September in the form of Saturday night’s (September 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 94 from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. In the main event, surging lightweight Dustin ‘Diamond’ Poirier will look to prove he’s truly ready to be placed among the
The UFC rolls on with the second of four cards throughout the month of September in the form of Saturday night’s (September 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 94 from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
In the main event, surging lightweight Dustin ‘Diamond’ Poirier will look to prove he’s truly ready to be placed among the top names of the talented 155-pound division when he meets perennial top 10 contender Michael Johnson, who will be competing inside the Octagon for the first time since his disappointing loss to Nate Diaz last December.
In the co-main, two middleweights seeking a spot in the top-heavy 185-pound fray will throw down when Uriah Hall meets Derek Brunson. Hall has show flashes of both brilliance and inconsistency lately, while Brunson has looked like a runaway freight train, albeit against lower-ranked competition. Based on how these two fighters’ bouts have played out in the past, this fight has the potential for some serious fireworks.
Find out who we picked to win these two pivotal bouts below.
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Johnson:
Mike Drahota:
With four straight dominating wins over increasingly more difficult opponents, it’s a surprise to me that the odds have Poirier, who comes in at only a -157 favorite according to BigOnSports.com, picked so slightly. True, ‘Menace’ has long been a force in arguably the UFC’s deepest division, but there are several question marks about his mental state after he’s taken the entire year off following his loss to Diaz.
I believe Johnson has the wrestling advantage, yet he seems focused on using predominantly striking, something I believe could get him in trouble against the recent bulldozing form of the ‘Diamond.’ Johnson may have retooled his game in the time off, but Poirier seems ultra-confident and ultra-powerful after moving back up to 155. ‘Diamond’ by second-round TKO.
Rory Kernaghan:
I like the new version of Poirier; he’s a real killer at lightweight. Surprising us with a renewed vigor against Joe Duffy and Bobby Green, ‘Diamond’ has shown improvements in all departments. He faces in Michael Johnson a proven beast, but MJ has suffered two straight losses. In his fight against Nate Diaz, ‘The Menace’ was taught a valuable boxing lesson. This remains a tough fight to pick though, as either man is very hard to beat on any given day. This fight will come down to who establishes the jab in the stand up and the control in the grappling exchanges. For my money, it’s going to be a decision for Poirier.
Mike Henken:
This fight may seem like a fairly even contest at first glance, but I see “The Diamond” earning a decisive victory here. Johnson’s speed and power cannot be overlooked, but he’s struggled as of late, dropping two consecutive bouts. Poirier, on the other hand, has won four straight since moving up to 155-pounds. He’s looked stronger, faster, and rejuvenated, and I see him continuing his winning trend in Texas. Poirier by unanimous decision.
Derek Brunson vs. Uriah Hall:
Mike Drahota:
This fight is another that could have ‘Fight of the Night’ written on it, as both Hall and Brunson bring heated action in their own respective ways. ‘Primetime’ obviously uses his flashy Karate-based striking background, while the more hard-nosed Brunson brings a pressure-heavy, brute force striking game in addition to some power wrestling tactics. With momentum in his favor, BigOnSports.com has Brunson a -179 favorite, with Hall a +154 underdog.
Hall has exhibited the full potential that he brought over from TUF 17 in the Octagon, and he’s also been seen coasting too often to be a top contender. However, his emphatic win over Gegard Mousasi last year proves he can defeat the best when on his game. Brunson has steamrolled through competition as of late, winning four straight including three in a row by TKO. He’ll give “Primetime” fits with his pressure and takedown attempts, but I think Hall will be able to stay out of range just long enough to outscore the Jackson’s MMA product. Uriah Hall by decision in a close bout.
Rory Kernaghan:
I love this fight. Hall has proven to be an absolute beast when he’s on form, and Brunson is one of those naturally explosive knockout artists you just love to watch. Unfortunately for ‘U-Hall,’ the Ultimate Fighter veteran can suffer from dips in form. He is coming off a disappointing loss to Robert Whittaker, but history tells us Hall will be rampant in trying to regain his form. Technique and a wider arsenal wins this fight, as I pick Hall for the first-round knockout.
Mike Henken:
In my opinion, the co-main event could very well feature a striking battle between two explosive strikers. Hall has proven himself to be one of the most exciting strikers in the division, although he is coming off of a disappointing setback loss to Robert Whittaker. Prior to that, however, “Primetime” scored an emphatic stoppage victory over Gegard Mousasi, proving that he could finish anyone in the 185-pound class. Brunson, on the other hand, also packs serious power as he’s scored three straight TKO victories and four straight wins overall. This fight is a toss up for me and I could see it playing out multiple ways, but I’ll go with Hall by way of third-round stoppage.
