Michael
Johnson still has more than enough firepower to make noise in
the
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 finalist punched out former Brave
Combat Federation champion Ottman
Azaitar in the second round of their featured
UFC on ESPN 63 prelim on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa,
Florida.
In his first appearance since July 15, 2023, Azaitar (13-3, 2-3
UFC) crashed and burned 2:03 into Round 2.
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A tepid and mostly uneventful first five minutes gave way to a
highlight-reel finish for one of the UFC’s most seasoned
competitors. Azaitar set off a wild exchange in the center of the
cage, showing no regard for his own safety. Johnson (23-19, 15-15
UFC) ducked out of danger and cut loose with a crushing right hook
on the counter. Azaitar was out before he hit the mat, where he was
met with a few more punches before referee Jason Herzog could
cordon off the scene.
Meanwhile, Bandog Fight Club star Joel
Alvarez wiped out Drakkar
Klose with a flying knee and follow-up punches in the first
round of their lightweight confrontation.
Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC) bowed out 2:48 into Round 1, his four-fight
winning streak having run its course.
Alvarez (22-3, 7-2 UFC) withstood a takedown and a few leg kicks,
then put his well-rounded offensive skills to use. He staggered
Klose with a slashing left cross, connected with a flying knee and
flirted with a guillotine up against the fence. Recognizing his
counterpart’s compromised condition, Alvarez bailed on the choke
and chose instead to close the deal with a barrage of short
punches.
All 22 of Alvarez’s professional victories have resulted in
finishes.
Further down the undercard, Dana White’s Contender Series graduate
Sean
Woodson put away Fernando
Padilla with punches in the first round of their featherweight
encounter. Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC)
brought it to a close with an exquisite multi-strike volley and
follow-up ground-and-pound 4:58 into Round 1.
Padilla (16-6, 2-2 UFC) applied heavy pressure from the start but
only walked himself into harm’s way. Woodson unleashed jabs and low
kicks, all while effectively shielding himself from return fire.
Late in the first round, he uncorked a devastating burst of
punches—a right uppercut started it and a left hook finished
it—that sent Padilla careening to the canvas in a dazed state.
Woodson gave chase, crouched over the fallen former Fury Fighting
Championship titleholder and prompted the stoppage with a series of
unanswered punches.
The 32-year-old Woodson has won four fights in a row.
Finally, Allstars Training Center rep Felipe Lima
called upon superior speed and unshakable composure, as he took a
unanimous decision from onetime Legacy Fighting Alliance champion
Miles
Johns in their three-round featherweight clash. All three
judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Lima (14-1, 2-0 UFC), who has
rattled off 14 consecutive victories.
Johns (15-3, 6-3 UFC) struggled to get in gear and grew
increasingly frustrated as time went on. Lima chipped away with a
persistent jab, stout leg kicks and the occasional aerial attack.
He threatened to finish it in the third round, where he executed a
takedown, progressed to the back and made passes at multiple
rear-naked chokes. Johns survived, but by then, the deficit he
faced was too much to overcome.
The loss snapped a modest two-fight winning streak for Johns.
In other action, Miranda
Maverick (15-5, 8-3 UFC) laid claim to a unanimous decision
over Jamey-Lyn
Horth (7-2, 2-2 UFC) in their three-round women’s flyweight
tilt, drawing 29-28 marks from all three cageside judges; Davey Grant
(17-7, 7-6 UFC) outstruck Ramon
Taveras (10-3, 1-1 UFC) to a unanimous verdict—29-28, 30-27,
30-27—in their three-round bantamweight scrap; and Piera
Rodriguez (10-2, 3-2 UFC) dominated the previously unbeaten
Josefine
Lindgren Knutsson (8-1, 2-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision in
their three-round women’s strawweight pairing, banking 30-27 scores
across the board.