Michael Johnson and Ottman Azaitar, UFC Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins on the Amalie Enviornment, Dec. 13, 2024 Credit score: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press
Lightweights Michael Johnson and Ottman Azaitar closed out the UFC Tampa preliminary card on Saturday.
Johnson, a longtime UFC veteran (14 years this month), had been buying and selling wins and losses throughout his final 5 fights. Azaitar had his again towards the wall, in the meantime, having misplaced his final two bouts.
The primary couple minutes of the opening spherical had been spent in a sense out course of, each fighters conscious of the facility coming the opposite manner. They had been each going to the physique and only a few kicks had been thrown. With Johnson controlling the middle of the octagon, he pushed Azaitar to the fence and shot a takedown that the Moroccan stuffed somewhat simply. Within the final minute of the spherical, Johnson tagged with a counter proper hook and adopted it up with a left hand that wobbled Azaitar. A transparent 10-9 for Johnson on account of that final trade.
There have been large swings from each fighters as soon as once more to begin spherical 2. Azaitar began to throw a pair extra kicks up excessive to maintain Johnson’s arms stapled to his head. A giant trade noticed Azaitar touchdown on Johnson. He should have thought he damage him greater than he really did, as a result of he then recklessly pushed ahead and bought caught with a large counter proper from Johnson that put him out chilly. Johnson fired a pair extra photographs to an unconscious Azaitar for good measure.
The 42-fight veteran proved he’s not completed but with a classic efficiency and closes out the 12 months in a giant manner, going 2-0 in 2024.
Official Outcome: Michael Johnson def. Ottman Azaitar by knockout (Spherical 2, 2:03)
