Diego Ferreira KOs Michael Johnson straight into a Renaissance painting

Benny A. King

Veteran lightweights Michael Johnson and Carlos Diego Ferreira clashed in an exciting showdown to kick off the main card at UFC Vegas 73 on Saturday. Ferreira emerged victorious with a picture perfect knockout, leaving Johnson out on the canvas.

Both Ferreira and Johnson entered the octagon with extensive experience in the lightweight division.

Despite his relatively even win-loss record, Johnson has faced some of the most formidable opponents in the 145 and 155-pound divisions throughout his UFC career. He has shared the cage with the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Nate Diaz, and Josh Emmett.

Victories against notable stars such as Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson, and Joe Lauzon have solidified his position as a respected competitor.

Diego Ferreira, too, has built a reputation for accepting challenging bouts within the UFC. Ferreira’s determination and resilience have been on full display throughout his career. This match against Johnson was yet another testament to his commitment to taking on the best in the division.

At the start of the bout, Johnson established control, dictating the distance and utilizing precise angles to land powerful combinations on his opponent. With his technical prowess, he showcased his ability to outmaneuver Ferreira and deliver significant damage.

However, Ferreira refused to back down and rallied under the guidance of his coach, Fortis MMA General Sayif Saud. With instructions to utilize quick jabs and rear right kicks, Ferreira steadily regained momentum.

Midway through the second round, he unleashed a devastating overhand right that connected cleanly with Johnson’s jaw. The impact was forceful enough to send Johnson crashing to the canvas, rendered unconscious by the blow.

With this impressive knockout victory, Ferreira put an end to his losing streak.

Unfortunately for Johnson, his momentum came to an abrupt halt with the devastating loss. He will now need to reassess certain aspects of his game before stepping back into the cage.

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Fereira thought about retirement ahead of the return:

“Yeah, it did cross my mind. I did a couple of jiu-jitsu tournaments before getting ready for a fight to see how my body and mindset were. I still got it, I still have that hunger and focus but it did go through my mind to retire and stop here. My body wasn’t hanging on as I wanted but my coach wanted to try for two years to see how far I want to take it. I want to focus on these two years I have ahead of me to see how far I can go.”