MICHAEL Johnson knocked out Dustin Poirier in the first round of the headline fight at the UFC Fight Night in Hidalgo, Texas on Sunday (AEST).
He executed a perfect right-left combination that sent Poirier to the canvas then started laying into him with a flurry of punches on the ground before the fight was called off after less than two minutes.
Plenty admired Johnson’s fast hands, but not everyone was as thrilled with his behaviour after he’d won.
He went over to have a quite word to his camp then celebrated in the Octagon by rubbing his thumb and fingers together — symbolising money. He then stood over his fallen opponent, who was being treated by medical staff, pointed at him as if to say, “Who do you think you are?” and then raised his arms in triumph.
He also appeared to yell something at Poirier while he was on the ground.
Minutes after the bout ended, Johnson actually issued an apology to Poirier while admitting that his emotions got the best of him after the finish.
“I had to apologise to Dustin afterwards for what I did. It was an emotional week,” Johnson said.
One statement Johnson doesn’t regret was the tirade he aimed at Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz while taking shots at the fighters for what he called a glorified “sparring” session back at UFC 202 while he came out gunning for a knockout against Poirier on Saturday night.
Now Johnson is looking to get a big payday just like the millions McGregor and Diaz earned for their rematch back in August.
“I’m just coming in here just showing people that I’m serious in this division. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz getting paid that money and they’re out here scrapping and having a sparring match,” Johnson shouted.
“I come to finish fights. I come for the kill. Pay me, baby, what’s up?
“I’m the most dangerous guy in this division. I’m going to test anybody. Give me my next victim. Anybody in this division. I’m coming for that title.”
The win certainly made a huge statement for Johnson following back-to-back losses in his two previous fights as he climbs back up the top 10 rankings in the lightweight division. Johnson made it clear that in a perfect world he would book his next fight almost immediately as he targeted the UFC 205 show at Madison Square Garden in November.
“I want on that New York card,” Johnson said.
“Anybody, let’s go.”
— with Damon Martin, FOXsports.com
UFC’S RECORD-BREAKING FIGHT
Chas Skelly wrote himself into the UFC record books with a stunning performance against Maximo Blanco at the Fight Night.
The 31-year-old shocked Blanco when the two kicked off the main card. Knowing Blanco was famous for his fast starts, Skelly decided on a unique approach he hoped would negate any advantage his opponent might normally have at the beginning of a fight.
He charged at the Venezuelan and landed a jumping front kick flush on his chest, knocking him to the ground.
He then tried to produce a one-arm guillotine choke, but couldn’t quite get it to work, and instead transitioned into an anaconda.
That did the business and Blanco’s night was over — all inside 19 seconds. Skelly had to tell the referee his opponent was out cold so the fight could be stopped.
Congrats @ChasSkelly on the fastest submission win in FTW UFC history. pic.twitter.com/fREcAZceTV
— Yaugerbombz (@Yaugerbombz) September 18, 2016
Skelly’s 19-second submission was the fastest ever in the UFC featherweight division, and the eighth fastest of all time.
Unsurprisingly, social media went into meltdown over the incredible moves.
“My plan was to drop kick him so I guess I’m not that athletic. I had to go with the Hulk Hogan one-footer,” Skelly said after the fight.
He immediately called for a rematch with Darren Elkins, who handed him a loss back in March, which put an end to his previous four fight winning streak.
“In my last fight I wasn’t prepared against Darren Elkins. I want that fight back.
“I’m a better competitor than that and I want that fight back.”
Skelly is now 5-2 in the UFC, while Blanco’s record stands at 4-5.
UFC’S NEW DEAL DOWN UNDER
As the UFC prepares to venture down under for a fight night in Melbourne in November, the MMA promotion has further strengthened its ties with Australia.
A three-year deal that runs through to August 2019 has made TAB.com.au the official betting and wagering partner of the UFC in Australia.
“This is the most significant, meaningful and fully integrated marketing partnership ever for the UFC in Australia,” Executive Vice President and General Manager for the UFC in Australia, New Zealand and Canada Tom Wright said.
“It’s one of those all encompassing kinds of relationships that brands always like to have with an organisation that knows Australia and knows its market very, very well.”
A TAB spokesman said more and more Aussies were betting on the UFC.
“We have been betting on UFC for less than a year but already several fights are surpassing sports like A-League and Test cricket.
“We held nearly $900,000 on UFC 194 and nearly $700,000 on UFC 202, which exceeded this year’s A-League grand final and Australia’s most recent Test match against Sri Lanka.”
