Michael Johnson
Former TUF teammates meet at lightweight
A pair of former housemates and teammates on “The Ultimate Fighter” will lock horns next month, both looking to rebound from submission losses.
Cody McKenzie and Michael Johnson, castmates on Season 12 of TUF and teammates on coach Georges St-Pierre‘s squad, will meet Jan. 28 in a lightweight bout at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago. McKenzie announced the fight booking Friday on his Twitter feed.
McKenzie (12-2, 1-2 UFC) has lost two straight, both by submission. In January, he lost for the first time in his career when he was submitted by rear naked choke against Yves Edwards at the Fight for the Troops 2 show. In September in New Orleans, he again lost by RNC, that time to Vagner Rocha. McKenzie started his career with 12 straight wins, all by stoppage – and the last 11 coming by a special form of guillotine choke he has dubbed the “McKenzietine.”
Johnson (9-6, 1-2 UFC) is coming off a heel hook submission loss to Paul Sass at UFC on Versus 6 in October. Prior to that, he beat Eddie Faaloloto by TKO in June for his first UFC victory. Johnson reached the lightweight finals on TUF 12, but lost to Jonathan Brookins by unanimous decision a year ago.
UFC on Fox 2, though not yet announced by the UFC, has been confirmed by UFC president Dana White for the United Center in Chicago. The promotion is expected to make an official announcement of the show on Wednesday at the United Center.
UFC on Fox 2 will be the promotion’s first trip to the Windy City since UFC 90 in October 2008. Though no main event has been announced, the headliner is expected to be a light heavyweight top contenders bout between former champion Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, a match that was supposed to take place at UFC 133 in August before Davis pulled out with an injury.