Michael Johnson is better placed than most to name the greatest lightweight in UFC history.
‘The Menace’ has been competing in MMA’s premier promotion since 2011 after earning a contract by making it all the way to the final of The Ultimate Fighter 12.
Since then, he’s made the walk to the Octagon 29 times. Michael Johnson will do so again for a fight with 155lb KO artist Ottman Azaitar at UFC Tampa on Saturday night.
‘The Bulldozer’ is a few steps below the level of competition Johnson was facing at the peak of his career, which saw him face several top contenders, who have gone on to achieve great things and become legends of the sport.
Michael Johnson names his toughest opponent
Michael Johnson’s resume is chocked full of top contenders and UFC icons.
The 38-year-old boasts high-profile wins over Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson, and Edson Barboza.
Johnson has also shared the cage with Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje. They both beat him, but the American insists that no one gave him a tougher fight than Khabib Nurmagomedov did at UFC 205 in November 2016.
The 29-0 Russian famously told Johnson, ‘You have to give up’ while beating the brakes off him on the undercard of Conor McGregor’s lightweight title win over Eddie Alvarez.
Five years later, Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked to name the toughest opponent of his career.
“It’s gotta be Khabib,” Johnson said during a September 2021 interview with Helen Yee.
“It was rough. I took that fight on like two or three weeks’ notice, which people really don’t talk about, which is fine, but I just wasn’t that prepared to fight somebody of that caliber.
“I just saw the opportunity. I was like, ‘Hell, why not? It’s a big risk with a big reward’.
“Of course, I’m going to fight the best of the best in Madison Square Garden. That just intrigued me to fight it.
“It was definitely one of the toughest ones and I have learned a lot from that fight.”
Who is the greatest of all time?
Despite being seriously impressed by Khabib Nurmagomedov, Michael Johnson stopped short of naming him the greatest of all time one year after he beat Justin Gaethje and retired from the sport with a perfect record in 2020.
Jon Jones tops his list after fighting for longer and overcoming UFC stars from three different generations at light heavyweight and heavyweight.
Johnson added when asked to name his GOAT: “It’s really hard to not say Jon is at the top of that list.
“Just based off the champions he’s beaten and everybody like that. Khabib’s definitely at the top of the list. I don’t think I’d give him the very top of the list just based off of the quality of opponents he’s beaten based on, Jon Jones.
“It’s very tight between those two guys.”