Michael Johnson

Nickname“The Menace”

Record

24-20

Streak

Age

Date of birth

Jun 4, 1986

Fighting out of: St. Louis
Born: United States
Camp: Kill Cliff FC
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5'10" · 178 cm
Reach: 74" · 187 cm
Stance: Southpaw
Last fight: Mar 7, 2026

UFC fight history

ResultOpponentMethodDetailEvent

#15Drew Dober

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 1:53

UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 · Mar 7, 2026

KO/TKO

R2 · 1:53

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2

Mar 7, 2026

Daniel Zellhuber

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · Jul 19, 2025

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3

Jul 19, 2025

Ottman Azaitar

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 2:03

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024

KO/TKO

R2 · 2:03

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley

Dec 14, 2024

Darrius Flowers

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer

Feb 10, 2024

#15Diego Ferreira

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 1:50

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023

KO/TKO

R2 · 1:50

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill

May 20, 2023

Marc Diakiese

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 3, 2022

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland

Dec 3, 2022

Jamie Mullarkey

Lightweight · Decision · Split · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev · Jul 9, 2022

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Split

UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev

Jul 9, 2022

Alan Patrick

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 3:22

UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022

KO/TKO

R2 · 3:22

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic

May 14, 2022

Clay Guida

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov · Feb 6, 2021

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov

Feb 6, 2021

Thiago Moises

Lightweight · Submission · Ankle Lock After Drop to Ground · R2 · 0:25

UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira · May 13, 2020

Submission

R2 · 0:25

Ankle Lock After Drop to Ground

UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira

May 13, 2020

Stevie Ray

Lightweight · Decision · Majority · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren · Oct 26, 2019

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Majority

UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren

Oct 26, 2019

#10Josh Emmett

Featherweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R3 · 4:14

UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Gaethje · Mar 30, 2019

KO/TKO

R3 · 4:14

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Gaethje

Mar 30, 2019

Artem Lobov

Featherweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Oezdemir vs. Smith · Oct 27, 2018

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Oezdemir vs. Smith

Oct 27, 2018

#15Andre Fili

Featherweight · Decision · Split · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick · Aug 25, 2018

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Split

UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick

Aug 25, 2018

#10Darren Elkins

Featherweight · Submission · Rear Naked Choke · R2 · 2:22

UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi · Jan 14, 2018

Submission

R2 · 2:22

Rear Naked Choke

UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi

Jan 14, 2018

Justin Gaethje

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Knees to Head In Clinch · R2 · 4:48

The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale · Jul 7, 2017

KO/TKO

R2 · 4:48

Knees to Head In Clinch

The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale

Jul 7, 2017

#1Khabib Nurmagomedov

Lightweight · Submission · Kimura From Side Control · R3 · 2:31

UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor · Nov 12, 2016

Submission

R3 · 2:31

Kimura From Side Control

UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor

Nov 12, 2016

#7Dustin Poirier

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head At Distance · R1 · 1:35

UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson · Sep 17, 2016

KO/TKO

R1 · 1:35

Punches to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson

Sep 17, 2016

#14Nate Diaz

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC on FOX: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 · Dec 19, 2015

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC on FOX: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2

Dec 19, 2015

#12Beneil Dariush

Lightweight · Decision · Split · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux · Aug 8, 2015

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Split

UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux

Aug 8, 2015

#6Edson Barboza

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir · Feb 22, 2015

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir

Feb 22, 2015

Melvin Guillard

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa · Mar 8, 2014

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa

Mar 8, 2014

Gleison Tibau

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 1:32

UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 · Dec 28, 2013

KO/TKO

R2 · 1:32

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2

Dec 28, 2013

#10Joe Lauzon

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen · Aug 17, 2013

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen

Aug 17, 2013

Reza Madadi

Lightweight · Submission · D'Arce Choke On Ground · R3 · 1:33

UFC on FUEL TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi · Apr 6, 2013

Submission

R3 · 1:33

D'Arce Choke On Ground

UFC on FUEL TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi

Apr 6, 2013

Myles Jury

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II · Dec 29, 2012

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II

Dec 29, 2012

Danny Castillo

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 · 1:06

UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot · Oct 5, 2012

KO/TKO

R2 · 1:06

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot

Oct 5, 2012

Tony Ferguson

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller · May 5, 2012

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller

May 5, 2012

Shane Roller

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis · Jan 28, 2012

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis

Jan 28, 2012

Paul Sass

Lightweight · Submission · Heel Hook On Ground · R1 · 3:00

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson · Oct 1, 2011

Submission

R1 · 3:00

Heel Hook On Ground

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson

Oct 1, 2011

Edward Faaloloto

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 · 4:42

UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry · Jun 26, 2011

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:42

Punches to Head On Ground

UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry

Jun 26, 2011

Jonathan Brookins

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale · Dec 4, 2010

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale

Dec 4, 2010

Outside the UFC

8-4across 12 bouts · 7 promotions · wins by 4 KO · 2 sub · 2 decFM · Titan FC 15 · XCF 10 · FFC · MCC 19 +2

Res	Opponent	Outcome	Finish	Rd	Time	Promotion	Date
W	Chris McDaniel18-21	KO/TKO	Punches	R1	4:34	FM	Jan 30, 2010
W	Ramiro Hernandez20-11	Decision	Unanimous	R3	5:00	Titan FC 15	Dec 18, 2009
W	Aaron Derrow14-11	KO/TKO	Punches	R1	0:43	XCF 10	Oct 3, 2009
L	Eric Marriott22-8	Submission	Heel Hook	R2	1:32	FM	May 9, 2009
W	Clay French19-7	Submission	Kimura	R1	3:16	FFC	Apr 10, 2009
L	Joe Brammer7-3-1	Submission	Guillotine Choke	R4	3:45	MCC 19	Mar 14, 2009
L	James Krause28-8	Submission	Triangle Choke	R1	2:55	FM	Nov 22, 2008
W	Warren Stewart13-32	KO/TKO	Punches	R1	2:37	FM	Sep 13, 2008
W	Lucas Gwaltney21-20-2	Decision	Majority	R3	5:00	MFL	Jul 25, 2008
L	Ted Worthington35-57	Submission	Triangle Choke	R3	1:29	MCC 13	Apr 25, 2008
W	Steve Schneider15-22-1	Submission	—	R1	2:12	FM	Apr 18, 2008
W	Chauncey Prather0-3	KO/TKO	Punches	R1	1:12	FM	Feb 1, 2008

Non-UFC bouts (regional/other promotions) — shown for context only, excluded from Schedule Score, striking/grappling rates, and every UFC-scoped metric.

Amateur

1-0across 1 amateur bout · 1 promotionECF

Res	Opponent	Outcome	Finish	Rd	Time	Promotion	Date
W	Kyle Tracz0-1	KO/TKO	Punches	R1	1:10	ECF	Aug 31, 2007

Amateur (pre-professional) bouts — shown for context only and excluded from the professional record and every UFC-scoped metric.

Career striking

OverallC57th

39%1,568 / 3,961

Striking accuracy

58%

Striking defense

Sig. strikes / min+0.49 differential

Landed4.27

Absorbed3.78

70%str + td

Defensive rating

Striking edge

-3%accuracy vs opp. landing

worseevenbetter

Strike maps

Sig. strikes by target

Head53%65th829
Body32%92nd496
Leg15%70th243

Color = division rank · green elite → red low · % = share of strikes

Sig. strikes by position

90%Standing

Standing90%1,405
Clinch6%101
Ground4%62

Striking zones

Per-15-minute breakdown — where this fighter lands, and where they get hit.

UFC only

Michael Johnson

Landed per 15

Head

66th

33.9

66th

Body

A+

94th

20.3

94th

Leg

71st

9.9

71st

Ranks are division percentiles — e.g. 90th = top 10% of the weight class. Higher is always better: on “absorbed” rows the rank is inverted, so a high rank means they get hit less.

Absorbed per 15

Head

35th

37.7

35th

Body

51st

9.4

51st

Leg

34th

9.5

34th

Ranks are division percentiles — e.g. 90th = top 10% of the weight class. Higher is always better: on “absorbed” rows the rank is inverted, so a high rank means they get hit less.

Career totals — landed / attempted

Landed (career total)

Zone	Per 15	Landed	Attempted	Accuracy
Head	33.9	829	2,776	30%
Body	20.3	496	869	57%
Leg	9.9	243	316	77%

Absorbed (career total)

Zone	Per 15	Landed	Attempted	Accuracy
Head	37.7	923	2,702	34%
Body	9.4	231	379	61%
Leg	9.5	232	286	81%

UFCStats career rates, per 15 minutes. Percentiles vs the division; absorbed is inverted so higher is better.

Pace & fade

Round-by-round work rate, and whether they fade.

UFC only

Michael Johnson

32 UFC bouts (per‑round) · 367 min

92%

R3 pace · 20 bouts

Johnson fades (-4% per round through round 3). Within fights that reached round 3, Johnson keeps 92% of round-1 output by round 3 (20 bouts).

Johnson ▼ FADESOutput / min

Rounds backed by fewer than 2 bouts are drawn smaller and dimmed with an n= count — a deep round seen in one or two fights is a thin sample, not a settled rate. Per-round bout counts are in the breakdown below.

Full per-round breakdown

What drives the pace · per round

The composite output line above blends these three inputs — splitting them out shows whether the work rate is built on striking volume, takedown pressure, or top control, and which input fades.

Sig. strikes landed

Johnsonlanded / min

Takedown attempts

Johnsonattempts / min

Control time

Johnson% of round

Round	Output / min	Sig landed / min	Sig absorbed / min	TD att / min	Control	Bouts
R1	5.0	4.6	3.3	0.06	7%	32
R2	4.9	4.3	4.3	0.10	8%	29
R3	4.6	3.8	3.9	0.15	10%	20

Output / minis the headline work rate — significant strikes landed, plus 3 per takedown attempt, plus one per 15 seconds of control — so a takedown-and-grind round isn’t scored as idle the way bare striking volume would. The remaining columns are its components. Per-round rates use UFCStats per-round data (available for ~95% of bouts since 2008). Each round’s rates are averaged only over bouts that reached that round, so the bout count shrinks as rounds deepen. The final round of a finished fight is pro-rated by its actual length.

Schedule Score

Opponent quality, ranked across the UFC. Recent fights weighted heavier.

UFC only

Michael Johnson

32 resolved UFC bouts · 11 ranked at the time

Schedule Score

41/ 100

0255075100

Schedule strength

66th

40%

66th

Win quality

56th

42%

56th

Opponent quality distribution

Every UFC bout, grouped by who the opponent was at the time.

ChampionHeld the title in this weight class at the time
Top-5Ranked #1–#5 at the time
Ranked 6–15Ranked #6–#15 at the time
Cross-div rankedRanked #1–#15 in another division at the time
Contender-level8+ UFC wins entering the bout, ≥.55 win rate
Established5+ UFC wins entering the bout, ≥.500
Building3+ UFC fights, ≥.40 win rate
UnprovenFewer than 3 fights, or sub-.40 win rate

Tier	Bouts	Record	Win rate
Champion	2	0-2	0%
Top-5	6	3-3	50%
Ranked 6–15	7	2-5	29%
Cross-div ranked	1	0-1	0%
Contender-level	2	2-0	100%
Established	4	3-1	75%
Building	6	2-4	33%
Unproven	4	4-0	100%

Highest-quality opponents

Toughest opponents on the scheduleScore, scored at the time of the fight.

All bouts — opponent quality bout-by-bout

Res	Opponent	Tier	Score	Date
L	Drew Dober#15	Ranked 6–15	62	Mar 7, 2026
W	Daniel Zellhuber	Building	18	Jul 19, 2025
W	Ottman Azaitar	Building	18	Dec 14, 2024
W	Darrius Flowers	Unproven	8	Feb 10, 2024
L	Diego Ferreira#15	Ranked 6–15	68	May 20, 2023
W	Marc Diakiese	Established	30	Dec 3, 2022
L	Jamie Mullarkey	Building	18	Jul 9, 2022
W	Alan Patrick	Established	30	May 14, 2022
L	Clay Guida	Cross-div ranked	45	Feb 6, 2021
L	Thiago Moises	Ranked 6–15	43	May 13, 2020
L	Stevie Ray	Established	30	Oct 26, 2019
L	Josh Emmett#10	Top-5	77	Mar 30, 2019
W	Artem Lobov	Unproven	8	Oct 27, 2018
W	Andre Fili#15	Ranked 6–15	60	Aug 25, 2018
L	Darren Elkins#10	Ranked 6–15	69	Jan 14, 2018
L	Justin Gaethje	Champion	68	Jul 7, 2017
L	Khabib Nurmagomedov#1	Champion	97	Nov 12, 2016
W	Dustin Poirier#7	Top-5	87	Sep 17, 2016
L	Nate Diaz#14	Top-5	74	Dec 19, 2015
L	Beneil Dariush#12	Top-5	77	Aug 8, 2015
W	Edson Barboza#6	Top-5	81	Feb 22, 2015
W	Melvin Guillard	Contender-level	50	Mar 8, 2014
W	Gleison Tibau	Contender-level	50	Dec 28, 2013
W	Joe Lauzon#10	Ranked 6–15	69	Aug 17, 2013
L	Reza Madadi	Building	15	Apr 6, 2013
L	Myles Jury	Ranked 6–15	49	Dec 29, 2012
W	Danny Castillo	Established	26	Oct 5, 2012
W	Tony Ferguson	Top-5	68	May 5, 2012
W	Shane Roller	Unproven	8	Jan 28, 2012
L	Paul Sass	Building	15	Oct 1, 2011
W	Edward Faaloloto	Unproven	8	Jun 26, 2011
L	Jonathan Brookins	Building	15	Dec 4, 2010

Per-bout quality scoring: champion = 100; same-division ranks 1–5 = 90 → 78 linear; ranks 6–15 = 75 → 60 linear; cross-division champion = 78; cross-division ranked = 45; title-fight challenger (no rank signal) = 50, bumped to 65 when opp had an elite career UFC record at the time. Unranked opponents are scored on UFC record-at-time (long-tenured vet 60, contender-level 45, established 30, building 18, unproven 8). P4P top-10 at time adds +5; top-3 adds +8 (capped at 100). The Schedule Score combines schedule strength (65%) and quality wins (35%), then is held toward a rookie baseline for fighters with limited UFC experience so a thin résumé reads honestly low.

Takedowns	14 / 36
Submission attempts	1
Control time	28:49

TDs defended	86 / 106
Control absorbed	61:25

Michael Johnson

UFC fight history

Outside the UFC

Amateur

Method of victory & defeat

Finishes

KO history

Judging

Career striking

Striking zones

Grappling

Pace & fade

What drives the pace · per round

Schedule Score

Career cohorts

Activity & layoff

Fight-by-fight odds & scoring