Anyone else feel bad for Michael Johnson?

120wrestling

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Dude has been through a murderers row in the UFC and is on a 3 fight skid. The combined record for the last 3 guys that have beat him is 68-5.

Through his career in the UFC he's fought nothing but top 5 guys

Dustin Poirier (won)
Edson Barboza (won)
Tony Ferguson (won)
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Justin Gaethje
Darren Elkins
Nate Diaz

He's also fought a bunch of former top 10 guys like Mad dog and Myles Jury.

Looks like he's never had that long run of wins that would boost his confidence up. One of the most inconsistent yet elite fighters on the roster
 
Why would I feel bad for him? UFC gave him plenty of high profile fights to shine and he fell short, that's on him and his team 100%. There're plenty of fighters who want but can't get these opportunities to prove themselves in the first place, Taisumov for example can't even get a US VISA, and his fights keep getting canceled as a result. If you want to feel bad, feel bad for them, not the ones who got multiple opportunities to take their career to the next level but failed every single time.
 
Yeah... terrible life being a well paid athlete.

And dont start with the "fighters make peanuts" BS... michael johnson makes more money than 90% of people in here....

If he cant beat the guys he fought thats on him.
 
Dude needs to learn what tune up fights are.
 
Why would I feel bad for him? UFC gave him plenty of high profile fights to shine and he fell short, that's on him and his team 100%. There're plenty of fighters who want but can't get these opportunities to prove themselves in the first place, Taisumov for example can't even get a US VISA, and his fights keep getting canceled as a result. If you want to feel bad, feel bad for them, not the ones who got multiple opportunities to take their career to the next level but failed every single time.

You got a good point. Still find it absurdly weird why they won't schedule him for more overseas events, like Brazil or the Poland card he wanted to be on. He's an EU citizen and was healthy all last year.
 
Nah. He's had chances and opportunities. Hell, he's had some of the best chances for sure! Just couldn't capitalize when it mattered most. There are a few fighters JUST like him in that regard. Cub and Cowboy come to mind.
 
Guida and Joe Stevenson managed to win Nate Diaz

An undersized Conor also stole a win from Nate

Maybe Michael Johnson just isn’t that great? He shouldn’t fight lesser opponents just to develop a better win record.
 
You got a good point. Still find it absurdly weird why they won't schedule him for more overseas events, like Brazil or the Poland card he wanted to be on. He's an EU citizen and was healthy all last year.

I believe given his performance the UFC wanted to give him some high profile fights in the UFC to increase his exposure, but most of those are on US cards (foreign cards typically have high profile main/co-main + regional talent, and Taisumov isn't at main/co-main level yet), so Taisumov is stuck in this awkward place of getting booked against solid names on US card then getting pulled.
 
Bad ? No.

The UFC is supposed to be the elite promotion. There’s nothing wrong with being a journeyman or a gate keeper. Two of my all time favorites would be labled as such. I love seeing them win. But I know they will never become a UFC champion.

I’m not a front runner or band wagon kind of guy. And I get the same amount of satisfaction from a great fight between a couple of journeymen as I do from two top contenders.

But I don’t feel bad for the losers, as such. It’s part of the game.
 
Why would I feel bad for him? UFC gave him plenty of high profile fights to shine and he fell short, that's on him and his team 100%. There're plenty of fighters who want but can't get these opportunities to prove themselves in the first place, Taisumov for example can't even get a US VISA, and his fights keep getting canceled as a result. If you want to feel bad, feel bad for them, not the ones who got multiple opportunities to take their career to the next level but failed every single time.
this poster describes the typical fan viewpoint very effectively.

one that frustrates me greatly.

many of MJ's fights were virtual ties. absolute coin flips. and to some fight fans (and gamblers) there is a big difference between someone who fights to a virtual tie and someone who gets crushed.

but to typical fans there is often no difference. an L is an L, fuck you, you lost, go home, you suck, and i know you suck not because i watched you fight but because i looked you up on wiki and saw the "L" (NOTE: i exaggerate for effect....or do i?)

so yes TS, put me in the category that wishes guys like MJ got more respect from the fannation.
 
I believe given his performance the UFC wanted to give him some high profile fights in the UFC to increase his exposure, but most of those are on US cards (foreign cards typically have high profile main/co-main + regional talent, and Taisumov isn't at main/co-main level yet), so Taisumov is stuck in this awkward place of getting booked against solid names on US card then getting pulled.

Nah, I don't think that's it. Because they've done the same with Sultan Aliev who also couldn't get a US Visa when scheduled for December. But they keep holding overseas events, so why not just schedule them for that? Most countries have friendly relations with Russia and/or the EU. And its not like they gave Taisumov a high-profile opponent, he got a mediocre fight on Fight Pass prelims just like every other North Caucasian fighter tends to get, before he pulled out.
 
He's still the only guy to whoop Tony Ferguson's ass in the UFC. Can't take that away from him.

And he owned Barboza on the feet in their match. Guy is so hot and cold.
 
Dude has been through a murderers row in the UFC and is on a 3 fight skid. The combined record for the last 3 guys that have beat him is 68-5.

Through his career in the UFC he's fought nothing but top 5 guys

Dustin Poirier (won)
Edson Barboza (won)
Tony Ferguson (won)
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Justin Gaethje
Darren Elkins
Nate Diaz

He's also fought a bunch of former top 10 guys like Mad dog and Myles Jury.

Looks like he's never had that long run of wins that would boost his confidence up. One of the most inconsistent yet elite fighters on the roster
When was mad dog top 10? And if Jury was he never should've been. Lol beating up Gomi & Diego shouldn't make anyone top ten unless it's was 2011 or prior.

But yeah MJ had had a rough run of it. I'd like to see him get Fili next at 145. Thats a damn winnable fight unless his gas tank is sooo bad.

Funny how Elkins beat him quicker than Khabib tho. War Elkins!
 
Mj is amazing when he's on, he's just so hot and cold. Feel bad for him yeah, met him in Rotterdam, he was a very nice guy.
 
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