Charles Johnson, UFC Vegas 72 weigh-in Credit score: Rodney James Edgar/Cageside Press
Going into 2024, Charles Johnson‘s profession was at a crossroads. He had misplaced three straight fights, which is rarely a great factor within the UFC. Then Johnson was booked with extremely touted prospect Azat Maksum on one of many first playing cards of the brand new 12 months. That might be the key turning level.
Charles proceeded to stroll by Maksum after which went on a run seldom seen within the flyweight division. He rattled off three extra wins earlier than the 12 months got here to an in depth for a complete for 4. When you ask Johnson, there was no massive change from the wins to the losses – merely simply the ebbs and flows of MMA.
“There is no secret. This is MMA fighting, you know – there’s peaks and valleys. 2024 was the bgeinning of some things to come and I think it will continue,” Johnson mentioned. “We’re excited, man. All the hard work over the last 10 years put into the sport, day in and day out, is finally coming to fruition.”
And whereas 2024 was already an incredible 12 months for him, Johnson needed it to be even larger. With a couple of fill-in opportunites close to the top of the 12 months, he was making an attempt to place up a flyweight report.
“I tried to get some other opportunities and step up on some other fights where guys fell out. I wasn’t chosen for those oppoirtunities,” he defined. “I really wanted to do some special things in 2024. I wanted to get that fifth fight to cement myself in flyweight history – first ever to do that in one calendar year.”
Now that the calendar has flipped and that report is previous, he’s executed chasing it. As a substitute, he’s received his eyes on what comes subsequent and issues which can be far larger and higher.
“It’s kind of like that thing when people hold on to the rope too long and you’re trying to make something happen,” Johnson mentioned. “I feel like I have other things, bigger things, in store for me. So I’m just focused on what I do when I’m in there these next 15 minutes – hppefully it doesn’t take that long.”
These quarter-hour will happen at UFC Vegas 103 with one other showdown with a extremely touted prospect. Johnson takes on Ramazan Temirov, who he feels may have a troublesome time together with his model.
“He’s just got no one to emulate me. There is no one in his training room to emulate me. Song Yadong doesn’t fight like me. Those guys in Alpha Male don’e fight like me. Those guys in Uzbekistand don’t train and fight like me. They don’t have the same cardio as me,” he mentioned. “I’m going to dominate this man. It’s going to be a tough fight, but I have this oil and water, man. How I move – how he moves – gonna tear him apart.”
You’ll be able to see Johnson look to make good on his prediction as a part of the UFC Vegas 103 prelims. That portion of the combat card begins at 4:30pm EST and airs on ESPN+.
