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[Sakara=Excitement]

UFC on FOX 2 winner Johnson credits football background for new fighting attitude | MMAjunkie.com

From now on, Michael Johnson is taking a new approach to fighting.

"I had good footwork because I was a running back," the lightweight told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com).

And following his win over Shane Roller (10-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC) on the preliminary card of UFC on FOX 2, Johnson (10-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) hopes to charge into spring with a fight in late March or early April.

Johnson outpointed Roller two rounds to one on judges' scorecards and picked up his second win in the octagon. UFC on FOX 2 took place this past Saturday at Chicago's United Center and aired on FOX and FUEL TV.

The veteran of "The Ultimate Fighter 12" displayed considerable poise in the standup department, where he managed to cut angles and outstrike Roller in exchanges. Johnson said his fast feet owed much to his days on the football field.

"It was something I'd do in practice because I always had that worry about what if my legs get tired, or what if I slip and he takes me down," he said. "So I was like, 'I'm just going to fight like I play football.'"

A takedown from Roller in the third round put Johnson in danger as he attempted to free himself from a possible choke while taking several shots to the back of the head. Dean and Roller had an in-fight debate about the legality of the strikes as Johnson gave the thumbs up.

But when referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the action, Johnson was worried the fight was over. As it turned out, though, Dean was only warning Roller for the illegal strikes.

"I'm like, 'Wow, did he really just stop it?' Johnson said. "[Herb] was like, 'No, no, I'm pausing it.' And I was like, whew. It was a breath of fresh air."

The chatting didn't stop at Dean's warning. When Roller started working to regain his position before Dean restarted the bout, Johnson had some choice words for his opponent.

"What the [expletive] is that? This is [expletive]," he said with a laugh.

But that was the least of his concerns when it came to the fight.

"I knew I had the first two rounds pretty convincingly, and it was going through my head that this is going to be a 10-8 round if I don't get my ass up and move, and this is going to be a draw," Johnson said. "Those two great rounds are going to go out the window. So I'm like, I have to work out of this position."

Johnson eventually freed himself and kept his feet light as Roller tried in vain to even the scorecards. But after two rounds of deft standup, he was in the clear.

Although a "Fight of the Night" bonus eluded him, Johnson is happy to move up the lightweight ladder.

"I know I'm going to be getting stiffer competition, which I can't wait," he said. "This lightweight division is completely stacked. I want to fight the best of the best. I want to fight anybody and everybody who's trying to move up in the division and trying to keep me in the back of the line. I want to take their spot.

"This is my year. I'm collecting chins on my mantle. It's empty right now, but it will be full by the end of the year."

[CtGreat]

I see great promise for him as a fighter, but he seriously needs to work his sub defense

[beau420]

Move up the lightweight ladder? More like happy to keep his job in the UFC.

He honestly looked really fast, good style for him moving in and out, especially against the slow and predictable Roller.

Would have liked to see Johnson continue with head movement and feints in the last round. He stopped doing the things that he was doing well in the first round.

I still have questions about his jaw. But he proved one huge thing to me....he came in with a gameplan and he did everything he could in order to execute that game plan.

That was the best thing I saw about him, that he had problems with in his previous fights. He dictated everything in the first 2 rounds.

That being said, he faded. And he better keep improving his game.

He always had a decent all round game, but he was really transitioning and moving well. He moved well from grappling to striking and back to grappling and looked smooth.

Still impressed with the hand speed he showed, which looked like a big improvement. Threw straighter punches with less power, that didn't take all the energy out of him.

Hopefully Zuffa keep Roller, but not sure if they will. Roller really looked slow and a little sloppy.

PS. I didn't like Johnsons dirty flying knee that turned into a nut shot, and followed it up instantly with punches...he knew his toes connected with Roller's cup.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Johnson is the epitome of a wonderfully gifted fighter with 'unlimited potential', but as for right now, he has some gaping holes in his game that will take more than a few months to shore up.

He's evolving leaps and bounds, but there is alot of BJJ fundamentals and defense needed, because he doesn't seem to exactly know when he's placing himself in danger. Ditto his striking, it's VERY promising, but there are massive windows that fighters are going to exploit. Roller was a GREAT test for him, DOWN THE LINE I'd really like to see how he fairs against a Mac Danzig or Dennis Hallman; if he can get into deep waters with them, he'll start developing the tools to fight against fighters who will technically break him down, especially with submission defense, I believe he will become a force.

I'm very incredulous about his submission defense, which I believe will often become his achilles heel. Sound familiar like any other EXPLOSIVE LWs?