Tag: Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division. Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. On a night that included a […]

UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division.

Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

On a night that included a host of knockouts, not many came more brutal than “The Menace’s” victory over Ottman Azaitar, who was rendered unconscious before eating some vicious follow-up shots on the ground.

The result has put Johnson back onto a win streak on MMA’s biggest stage, and despite nearing the 40 mark, he doesn’t plan on leaving life as an active fighter for a long time.

During his post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, Johnson reflected on his successful performance and looked ahead to his future.

On the topic of retirement, the 42-fight MMA veteran outlined a lengthy timeline for the remainder of his career.

“Five years (more, I want to fight),” Johnson said. “I always tell people I want to do eight to 10 more years and they look at me with this face. I’m not slowing down any time soon. As long as my body’s healthy and I can get through what I need to get through, I’m going to fight for as long as I can.

“I think Nate Diaz said it the best, and he’s turned into a good friend. He was an opponent of mine. We always keep in touch, but he made a comment that said, ‘Sh*t, I’ll fight till I’m 50. Just getting started.’ So that’s what it is. I’m just getting started,” Johnson continued. “This might be my peak. A lot of people peak at 25, 30 (years old). I might be one peaking at 38, 40.”

With that in mind, Johnson looks set to have plenty of time to tick off some of his remaining ambitions. And when it comes to advancing his late-career title aspirations and exacting revenge for a past result, “The Menace” has a perfect next opponent in mind.

“The Justin Gaethje fight – that’s the one that I want,” Johnson explained. “I think everybody would love a Gaethje-Johnson (rematch). I gave him that opportunity when he came over (from WSOF), when nobody else wanted to. So, I think he should go ahead and give that back. We need to run one ’cause I know he knows he got away with that one.”

Johnson welcomed Gaethje to the UFC back in 2017, a bout that came after the 38-year-old had battled Beneil Dariush, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov in consecutive assignments. The promotional newcomer got his hand raised after finding the knockout late in round two of a fight that was widely seen as the year’s best.

Whether Gaethje and the UFC will reciprocate the interest in a rematch remains to be seen. “The Highlight” hasn’t competed since suffering a vicious last-second knockout at the hands of Max Holloway at UFC 300 this past April.

Regardless, be it the former interim champion or perhaps another name inside the top 15, it would appear that Johnson has earned the chance to climb back up the ladder in 2025 following a perfect 2-0 run this year.

‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar. Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion. “The Menace” then put him away brutally […]

Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar.

Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion.

“The Menace” then put him away brutally in the second round. As Azaitar attempted to come forward, Johnson landed a brutal, lightning quick hook that faceplanted him. He followed up with two vicious strikes before the referee was able to push him off his unconscious opponent.

Michael Johnson Brings Devastation With KO Of Ottman Azaitar At UFC Tampa

Johnson has now won three of his last four and four of his last six, continuing to secure victories at 38 years of age.

Azaitar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight since starting his professional MMA career 13-0.

Diego Ferreira scores vicious one-Hit knockout against Michael Johnson in brutal win – UFC Vegas 73 Highlights

Diego FerreiraDiego Ferreira scored an absolutely brutal one-hitter quitter against Michael Johnson at UFC Vegas 73 on Saturday night. Ferreira was desperate to get back into the win column after coming up short in his last three contests. With his back against the wall, ‘CFD’ delivered in the second round of his main card opener, landing […]

Diego Ferreira

Diego Ferreira scored an absolutely brutal one-hitter quitter against Michael Johnson at UFC Vegas 73 on Saturday night.

Ferreira was desperate to get back into the win column after coming up short in his last three contests. With his back against the wall, ‘CFD’ delivered in the second round of his main card opener, landing a vicious looping right hook that caught Johnson on the button, instantly separating his soul from his body. Ferrerira followed his opponent to the canvas, landing another blow for good measure, but it was quite unnecessary and Ferreira apologized profusely for doing so once the referee stepped in and called for the stoppage.

With the victory, Diego Ferreira improved to 9-5 inside the Octagon and 18-5 overall while Michael Johnson dropped to 13-15 under the UFC banner, 21-19 overall. ‘The Menace’ has now alternated wins and losses in his last four appearances.

Official Result: Diego Ferreira def. Michael Johnson via knockout (right hook) at 1:50 of Round 2

Check Out Highlights From Diego Ferreira vs. Michael Johnson at UFC Vegas 73 Below:

https://twitter.com/FireMMAVid/status/1660064875639365634

Michael Johnson slams UFC rival Tony Ferguson amid calls of future rematch: ‘Your boxing is garbage’

Michael Johnson UFC Tony FergusonVeteran UFC lightweight contender, Michael Johnson has blasted past opponent and perennial division challenger, former interim champion, Tony Ferguson – branding his boxing “garbage” amid rumors of a potential rematch between the two veterans. Johnson, who boasts a 21-18 professional record, managed to return to the winner’s enclosure back in December at UFC Orlando last […]

Michael Johnson UFC Tony Ferguson

Veteran UFC lightweight contender, Michael Johnson has blasted past opponent and perennial division challenger, former interim champion, Tony Ferguson – branding his boxing “garbage” amid rumors of a potential rematch between the two veterans.

Johnson, who boasts a 21-18 professional record, managed to return to the winner’s enclosure back in December at UFC Orlando last year, defeating Marc Diakiese in a unanimous decision triumph – which came as just his second win in his last seven Octagon outings. 

As for Tony Ferguson, the Oxnard native headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year against promotional veteran and common-foe, Nate Diaz, suffering an eventual fourth round guillotine choke submission defeat. The loss came as Ferguson’s fifth consecutively following a division-best run of 12 straight wins at lightweight.

Michael Johson previously offered to rematch Tony Ferguson

Matching with Johnson back in May 2012, Ferguson suffered a fractured forearm during their UFC Fight Night East Rutherford clash, en route to an eventual unanimous decision loss.

Amid their recent run of defeats, Johnson offered to rematch Ferguson for their next respective Octagon outings recently.

“Yo @TonyFergusonXT not sure if you’re still in the big game, but if so and you want to come back to ‘55 I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself,” Michael Johnson tweeted. “Or we can do it 170 also!! Let’s give the fans what they want!!!!” 

However, earlier this week, Johnson once more reached out to California veteran, Ferguson – this time to criticize his striking.

“Too bad your boxing is (garbage can emojis),” Michael Johnson tweeted in response to Tony Ferguson. 

Over the course of his lightweight tenure with the promotion, Johnson has landed victories over former interim titleholders, Ferguson, as well as Dustin Poirier – the latter of which with a first round KO in 2016, as well as perennial contenders, Edson Barboza, Joe Lauzon, and Melvin Guillard. 

Michael Johnson offers ex-UFC champion Tony Ferguson lightweight rematch: ‘I’ll give you a chance’

Michael Johnson UFC Tony FergusonHaving previously defeated former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, Tony Ferguson back in 2012, lightweight division staple, Michael Johnson has offered the Oxnard veteran an opportunity to avenge his loss 11 years later, and also snap his run of five consecutive losses. Featuring on a UFC on Fox card in New Jersey back in 2012, Ferguson […]

Michael Johnson UFC Tony Ferguson

Having previously defeated former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, Tony Ferguson back in 2012, lightweight division staple, Michael Johnson has offered the Oxnard veteran an opportunity to avenge his loss 11 years later, and also snap his run of five consecutive losses.

Featuring on a UFC on Fox card in New Jersey back in 2012, Ferguson suffered his first promotional loss in the form of a unanimous decision defeat to Johnson, fracturing his forearm during the contest after blocking a kick.

Ferguson, a former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, would embark on a division-tying run of 12 fights undefeated in the eight years following the loss to Johnson, including his interim title success.

However, in the last three years, Tony Ferguson has slumped to five consecutive losses, including defeats against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, and most recently, Nate Diaz in September of last year.

For Johnson, the once surging lightweight contender who also holds wins over another former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier courtesy of a 2016 UFC Fight Night Hidalgo main event KO, has experienced a topsy-turvy Octagon tenure. 

Returning at UFC Fight NIght Orlando back in December of last year, Johnson returned to the winner’s enclosure with a close, unanimous decision win over former UK lightweight, Marc Diakiese. 

Michael Johnson offers Tony Ferguson a rematch of their 2012 matchup

Offering Tony Ferguson a rematch in their next respective Octagon walks, Johnson claimed fans would be interested in seeing the duo rematch.

“Yo @TonyFergusonXT not sure if you’re still in the big game, but if so and you want to come back to ‘55 I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself,” Michael Johnson tweeted. “Or we can do it 170 also!! Let’s give the fans what they want!!!!”

Winning interim lightweight gold back in October 2017, Ferguson submitted promotional alum, Kevin Lee with a third round triangle in the main event of UFC 216.

Former UFC Headliner Calls Out Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker seems to be a popular guy these days and is getting the call-out treatment. Dan Hooker is looking for a fight. The New Zealander is itching to get back in the cage and has been making some callouts. Hooker has been looking for a fight with T…

Dan Hooker seems to be a popular guy these days and is getting the call-out treatment. Dan Hooker is looking for a fight. The New Zealander is itching to get back in the cage and has been making some callouts. Hooker has been looking for a fight with Tony Ferguson lately but has been on…

Continue Reading Former UFC Headliner Calls Out Dan Hooker at MMA News.