Lightweight · “The Menace”
Michael Johnson
24-20-0 UFC 16-16-0
Takedown-Proof
Hard To Take Down
5'10"Height
73"Reach
SouthpawStance
40Age
6KO wins
0Sub wins
37.5%Finish rate
11:28Avg fight
Skill profile
- TD Defense Strong 87
- Striking Average 56
- Durability Average 55
- Striking D Average 46
- Wrestling Below avg 25
- Accuracy Weak 15
- Grappling Weak 10
- Control Weak 10
Takedown-Proof
86 of 106 takedowns stuffed
Hard To Take Down
strong td defense — rates 87 of 100 among UFC veterans
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min4.27
Sig. strikes absorbed / min3.78
Striking accuracy39.6%
Striking defense58.8%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.53
Takedowns / 15 min0.57
Takedown accuracy38.9%
Takedown defense81.1%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.04
Control time7.9%
Record vs .500+ opponents11-11
Insider info
Drew Dober favored — picked against Michael Johnson coinflip UFC 326 · March 1, 2026
Admits upfront he's personally close with Dober and would pick him regardless of who's actually better, explicitly framing the fight itself as one that could go either way.
A veteran with legitimate power, good volume when he chooses to let his hands go, and sharp counter instincts, though the issue is inconsistency, since some nights he sits back and counters without much output rather than pushing pace. His career record reads as boom-or-bust: capable of beating some of the division's best and losing to lesser competition in the same stretch. His grappling is a real weapon in theory, with good takedown defense and the ability to mix in takedowns, but a history of submission losses is the clear hole in his defensive game.
Strengthreal power and sharp counter-striking
Strengthcapable of beating high-level competition on his day
Strengthdefends takedowns well and has his own wrestling to fall back on
Weaknessinconsistent output from fight to fight
Weaknesssubmission defense has been a repeated problem
Striking trend
Fight history
L Drew Dober 28-15 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 1:53 — UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 · March 7, 2026
27/76Sig. strikes
22/55Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Daniel Zellhuber 15-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · July 19, 2025
80/195Sig. strikes
52/182Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:22Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Ottman Azaitar 13-2 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 2:03 — UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley · December 14, 2024
19/50Sig. strikes
16/56Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:12Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Darrius Flowers 0-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · February 10, 2024
61/112Sig. strikes
33/64Absorbed
4/8Takedowns
6:02Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Diego Ferreira 8-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 1:50 — UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill · May 20, 2023
32/58Sig. strikes
30/71Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Marc Diakiese 16-5 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland · December 3, 2022
83/181Sig. strikes
55/127Absorbed
0/3Takedowns
0:30Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Jamie Mullarkey 14-5 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev · July 9, 2022
66/190Sig. strikes
96/217Absorbed
0/2Takedowns
0:37Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Alan Patrick 15-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 3:22 — UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
30/48Sig. strikes
22/47Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
2:01Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Clay Guida 34-19 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov · February 6, 2021
58/126Sig. strikes
49/89Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
3:03Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Thiago Moises 12-4 walk-in Submission · R2 0:25 — UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira · May 13, 2020
27/60Sig. strikes
1/16Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:21Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Stevie Ray 6-4 walk-in Decision - Majority · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren · October 26, 2019
78/173Sig. strikes
85/188Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Josh Emmett 13-2 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 4:14 — UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Gaethje · March 30, 2019
24/128Sig. strikes
22/87Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Artem Lobov 13-14-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Oezdemir vs. Smith · October 27, 2018
99/219Sig. strikes
67/189Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
0:39Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Andre Fili 18-5 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick · August 25, 2018
65/116Sig. strikes
37/117Absorbed
0/3Takedowns
1:30Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Darren Elkins 23-5 walk-in Submission · R2 2:22 — UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi · January 14, 2018
45/98Sig. strikes
18/64Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Justin Gaethje 17-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 4:48 — The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale · July 7, 2017
91/200Sig. strikes
104/174Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
0:34Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Khabib Nurmagomedov 20-0 walk-in Submission · R3 2:31 — UFC 205: Alvarez vs McGregor · November 12, 2016
19/77Sig. strikes
94/142Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Dustin Poirier 20-4 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:35 — UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson · September 17, 2016
14/37Sig. strikes
6/12Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:03Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Nate Diaz 17-10 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 · December 19, 2015
103/301Sig. strikes
153/300Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
0:19Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Beneil Dariush 11-1 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Saint Preux · August 8, 2015
84/222Sig. strikes
75/201Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Edson Barboza 15-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs Mir · February 22, 2015
38/187Sig. strikes
31/98Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
1:01Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Melvin Guillard 31-12-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa · March 8, 2014
48/146Sig. strikes
22/103Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
1:14Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Gleison Tibau 30-9 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 1:32 — UFC 168: Weidman vs Silva 2 · December 28, 2013
22/85Sig. strikes
12/63Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:02Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Joe Lauzon 20-8 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Sonnen · August 17, 2013
116/255Sig. strikes
25/109Absorbed
2/2Takedowns
1:01Control
2Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Reza Madadi 12-3 walk-in Submission · R3 1:33 — UFC on FUEL TV: Mousasi vs Latifi · April 6, 2013
20/64Sig. strikes
34/46Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
1:49Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Myles Jury 10-0 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 155: Dos Santos vs Velasquez II · December 29, 2012
6/41Sig. strikes
56/121Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Danny Castillo 14-4 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 1:06 — UFC on FX: Browne vs Bigfoot · October 5, 2012
17/36Sig. strikes
17/35Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:03Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Tony Ferguson 13-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Diaz vs Miller · May 5, 2012
67/183Sig. strikes
45/176Absorbed
0/2Takedowns
0:01Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Shane Roller 10-5 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Evans vs Davis · January 28, 2012
64/136Sig. strikes
56/92Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
4:26Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Paul Sass 11-0 walk-in Submission · R1 3:00 — UFC Live: Cruz vs Johnson · October 1, 2011
8/26Sig. strikes
2/16Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:39Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Edward Faaloloto 2-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 4:42 — UFC Live: Kongo vs Barry · June 26, 2011
27/73Sig. strikes
17/43Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
1:05Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Jonathan Brookins 11-3 walk-in TITLE Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs Team Koscheck Finale · December 4, 2010
30/62Sig. strikes
32/67Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:15Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.
Record breakdown
Wins by method
KO/TKO
10
Submission
2
Decision
12
Other
0
Losses by method
KO/TKO
4
Submission
9
Decision
7
Other
0
Fights by organization
UFC
32
FM Productions
6
Midwest Cage Championship
2
Titan FC
1
Xtreme Cage Fighter
1
Fuel Fight Club
1
Midwest Fight League
1
Full career — 44 fights, every organization
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Drew Dober | KO (punch) | UFC 326
March 7, 2026 |
UFC | 2 | 1:53 |
| W | Daniel Zellhuber | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 318
July 19, 2025 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Ottman Azaitar | KO (punch) | UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley
December 14, 2024 |
UFC | 2 | 2:03 |
| W | Darrius Flowers | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer
February 10, 2024 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Carlos Diego Ferreira | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill
May 20, 2023 |
UFC | 2 | 1:50 |
| W | Marc Diakiese | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland
December 3, 2022 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Jamie Mullarkey | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev
July 9, 2022 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Alan Patrick | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić
May 14, 2022 |
UFC | 2 | 3:22 |
| L | Clay Guida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov
February 6, 2021 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Thiago Moisés | Submission (achilles lock) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira
May 13, 2020 |
UFC | 2 | 0:25 |
| L | Stevie Ray | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren
October 26, 2019 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Josh Emmett | KO (punch) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje
March 30, 2019 |
UFC | 3 | 4:14 |
| W | Artem Lobov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith
October 27, 2018 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Andre Fili | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick
August 25, 2018 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Darren Elkins | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi
January 14, 2018 |
UFC | 2 | 2:22 |
| L | Justin Gaethje | TKO (punches and knees) | The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale
July 7, 2017 |
UFC | 2 | 4:48 |
| L | Khabib Nurmagomedov | Submission (kimura) | UFC 205
November 12, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 2:31 |
| W | Dustin Poirier | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson
September 17, 2016 |
UFC | 1 | 1:35 |
| L | Nate Diaz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2
December 19, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Beneil Dariush | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux
August 8, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Edson Barboza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir
February 22, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Melvin Guillard | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa
March 8, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Gleison Tibau | KO (punches) | UFC 168
December 28, 2013 |
UFC | 2 | 1:32 |
| W | Joe Lauzon | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Reza Madadi | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi
April 6, 2013 |
UFC | 3 | 1:33 |
| L | Myles Jury | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 155
December 29, 2012 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Danny Castillo | KO (punches) | UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot
October 5, 2012 |
UFC | 2 | 1:06 |
| W | Tony Ferguson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller
May 5, 2012 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Shane Roller | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis
January 28, 2012 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Paul Sass | Submission (heel hook) | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson
October 1, 2011 |
UFC | 1 | 3:00 |
| W | Edward Faaloloto | TKO (punches) | UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry
June 26, 2011 |
UFC | 1 | 4:42 |
| L | Jonathan Brookins | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale
December 4, 2010 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Chris McDaniel | TKO (punches) | FM Productions 7
January 30, 2010 |
FM Productions | 1 | 4:34 |
| W | Ramiro Hernandez | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 15
December 18, 2009 |
Titan FC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Aaron Derrow | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Cage Fighter 10
October 3, 2009 |
Xtreme Cage Fighter | 1 | 0:43 |
| L | Eric Marriott | Submission (heel hook) | FM Productions 6
May 9, 2009 |
FM Productions | 2 | 1:32 |
| W | Clay French | Submission (kimura) | Fuel Fight Club
April 10, 2009 |
Fuel Fight Club | 1 | 3:16 |
| L | Joe Brammer | Submission (guillotine choke) | Midwest Cage Championship 19
March 14, 2009 |
Midwest Cage Championship | 4 | 3:45 |
| L | James Krause | Submission (triangle choke) | FM Productions 4
November 22, 2008 |
FM Productions | 1 | 2:55 |
| W | Warren Stewart | TKO (punches) | FM Productions 3
September 13, 2008 |
FM Productions | 1 | 2:37 |
| W | Lucas Gwaltney | Decision (majority) | Midwest Fight League: Battle at the Blue Note 9
July 25, 2008 |
Midwest Fight League | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Ted Worthington | Submission (triangle choke) | Midwest Cage Championship 13
April 25, 2008 |
Midwest Cage Championship | 3 | 1:29 |
| W | Steve Schneider | Submission (rear naked-choke) | FM Productions 2
April 18, 2008 |
FM Productions | 1 | 2:12 |
| W | Chauncey Prather | TKO (punches) | FM Productions 1
February 1, 2008 |
FM Productions | 1 | 1:12 |
Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Michael Johnson (fighter)) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.