Michael Johnson is back in the win column thanks to a split decision win over Andre Fili.
The co-main event of UFC Lincoln featured featherweight action. Johnson went one-on-one with Andre Fili. The two clashed inside the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Johnson found a home for that straight left hand in the opening round. Fili matched up with him in terms of aggression. Another straight left was there for Johnson. “The Menace” missed a high kick near the end of the round.
Right away in round two, Johnson connected with the left hand. Fili went for a high kick, but nothing doing. Johnson landed a kick to the groin accidentally. Time resumed quickly. Johnson looked to pressure his opponent. Fili ducked under a punch and took his opponent down. He went for the back and held onto Johnson as “The Menace” stood up. Fili got under the chin and Johnson went down the mat. Johnson got out of it momentarily. Johnson escaped and gained top control with about 50 seconds left in the round. “The Menace” rained down some elbows. Fili threw up a triangle. Johnson got out of danger near the end of the round.
Fili had his high kick blocked early in the final frame. Johnson connected with a right hand followed by a leg kick. Fili was able to take Johnson down. “The Menace” got back to his feet and the two returned to the center of the Octagon. Johnson ducked under a head kick. He landed a leg kick and stuffed a takedown attempt. A left cross landed for Johnson and he shoved Fili against the fence. He dropped down, but Fili avoided the takedown attempt as the final horn sounded.
Final Result: Michael Johnson def. Andre Fili via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
The UFC is back in action with tonight’s (Sat., August 25, 2018) UFC Lincoln from the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.
It may not be the most high-profile card, but UFC Lincoln has some incredibly high-level action on tap for MMA fans in Nebraska.
In the main event, lightweights Justin Gaethje and James Vick will throw down in a trash talk-fueled showdown. In the co-main, former lightweight contender Michael Johnson will look to secure his first win at featherweight against Andre Fili.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at all the main card bouts in our UFC Lincoln main card preview, predictions, and analysis.
Photo Credit: Kyle Terada for USA TODAY Sports
Justin Gaethje vs. James Vick
This fight has had a surprisingly high amount of bad blood building.
Vick has repeatedly trashed Gathje’s all-or-nothing style after he lost two straight to Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez.
Gaethje, meanwhile, has blasted Vick for having a point fighting style. He’s more apt to stand directly in the pocket and throw bombs, something the much taller Vick avoids. The Texas-based rising contender will look to utilize his six-inch reach advantage to keep ‘The Highlight’ on the outside.
But eventually, he’ll have to throw down with the blitzing Gaethje. The former WSOF champion will be looking to land his trademark leg kicks. Those will sap Vick’s ability to stay on the run and implement his gameplan.
Vick simply has not faced the level of competition Gaethje has. He was knocked out by Beneil Dariush in his only real top challenge. I think Gaethje slams the kicks home and opens up the path for a finish because of them.
Prediction: Justin Gaethje def. James Vick by R3 TKO (strikes)
Michael Johnson vs. Andre Fili
Johnson is somehow 1-5 in his last six UFC bouts after remaining one of the top lightweights in the world for some time.
He lost his featherweight debut to Darren Elkins in shocking fashion after controlling the early action. I think that was a bit fluky, and perhaps a lapse in focus for ‘The Menace.’ After all, Johnson’s last win was a vicious KO of surging top lightweight Dustin Poirier.
Team Alpha Male’s Fili is a tough competitor who uses his range well, but he isn’t the most consistent. He’s giving up size, experience, and both striking power and skill to Johnson.
Unless the former TUF finalist is just shot, this should be Johnson’s fight to win.
Prediction: Michael Johnson def. Andre Fili via R2 KO (punches)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Angela Hill vs. Cortney Casey
Casey has eight UFC fights. She’s lost five of them despite normally having a size edge on almost all of her opponents. Casey has lost her last two by split decision, but she’s just been too inconsistent to rise up the strawweight rankings as a result.
Hill, meanwhile, hasn’t been all that much more consistent, going 2-2 in her last four fights in the Octagon. Before that, however, she was the Invicta FC strawweight champion, defending the title once before returning to the UFC.
‘Overkill’ has the much more precise striking, and Casey, of course, has the size advantage. Hill will be looking to score with volume while Casey looks to use her size to clinch and get a takedown. I believe Hill should be able to stay upright and pick Casey apart. I’d be wholly stunned to see a finish here based on both fighters’ recent results.
Prediction: Angela Hill def. Cortney Casey via unanimous decision
Jake Ellenberger vs. Bryan Barberena
This is a do-or-die fight for longtime veteran Ellenberger, whose career is seemingly in a perpetual state of just that. He’s gone a putrid 2-8 in his last 10 octagon appearances. He is also fighting in his home state of Nebraska.
It also brings the backstory of Barberena having been the man who retired Ellenberger’s brother Joe, so “The Juggernaut” has everything to fight for here. However, things aren’t exactly in his favor. True, he may have the size and even power on Barberena, but “Bam Bam” has an iron chin and youth on his side.
Barberena is tough in all areas but not shining in any one area, yet that may not be necessary against a clearly fading Ellenberger. Still, “The Juggernaut” claims he’s still advancing in his skillset despite his recent track record. He has emotion on his side, and that could help or hurt him.
I’ll go with the former and pick Ellenberger to gut out an emotional, hard-fought win in his home state.
Prediction: Jake Ellenberger def. Bryan Barberena via unanimous decision
John Moraga vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Moraga has quietly picked up a three-fight win streak in the UFC’s least-promoted division. He brings some strong wrestling and has rebounded from a previous three-fight skid quite well.
“Chicano John” also scored an impressive knockout of Magomed Bibulatov last year. However, he’s got his back against the wall against Figueiredo. The undefeated Brazilian may not be known to anyone outside of hardcore fans, but he has the skills to become a star.
He’s won all three of his UFC fights to this point, including two by TKO. Figueiredo will come out smoking on the feet. Moraga, on the other hand, may look to take this one to the ground to avoid the Brazilian’s power striking.
Either way, the scrambles should be fun and this is an under-the-radar “Fight of the Night” contender in Lincoln. Expect fireworks with Figueiredo coming out on top in a war.
Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo def. John Moraga via split decision
Brad Penner for USA TODAY Sports
Eryk Anders vs. Tim Williams
Formerly surging prospect Anders saw his spotless record disappear in a split decision loss to Lyoto Machida earlier this year.
He receives a notable step down in competition against Williams. That’s resulted in Anders being a monster favorite on this card, with some sites rating him at -1000 or more.
Williams is a strong wrestler. His chin has failed him in the past, hence leading me to believe Anders will bounce back thunderously. Oskar Piechota knocked Williams out in less than two minutes this February.
This is a spot tailor-made for Anders to rebound and rebound big. He should be able to implement his clean, powerful striking and therefore return to the win column. Williams has some solid wrestling, but I don’t see him able to ground the more athletic Anders and keep him there.
Anders should score a big finish and re-ignite his hype train in Lincoln.
Prediction: Eryk Anders def. Tim Williams via R1 KO (punches)
LINCOLN, Neb. – The UFC Lincoln weigh-ins are in the books. And although all fighters made weight, the faceoffs immediately following the weigh-ins definitely provided some added intrigue to an already solid night of fights.
The face-offs started out relatively mundane. That is until Joanne Calderwood and Kalindra Faria stood eye to eye. Neither women wanted to give an inch as they gazed straight through each other’s eyes. Calderwood would turn her head slightly to the left as if to say, you can go now. Faria turned forward for her media queue, a perfect time to show of her UFC tattoo on her left bicep. All the while Calderwood staring a hole through the Brazilian. This fight just got much more interesting.
The middle portion of the weigh-ins flew by without incident until John Moraga and Deiveson Figueiredo took center stage. Mick Maynard instantly thrust his arm between these two flyweights as they immediately had words for each other. The matchmaker tried to direct the fighter’s attention straight ahead. However, both fighters would exchange profanity at one another. UFC Staff regained control of the situation but not before Moraga stuck his middle finger out at Deiveson. If you weren’t looking forward to this fight before you outta be now.
The weigh-ins continued on smoothly until the co-main event fight between Michael Johnson and Andre Fili. The fighters met head first and rested their foreheads on one another. Fili had his hands raised high above Johnson’s head. As if to say, I will own you. The fighters eventually turned forward for their photo opp.
The main event between Justin Gaethje and James Vick is sure to be a barnburner. The trash talk from Vick has been hilarious at times. That being said their faceoff felt flat.
UFC Fight Night 135 heads to Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday and the Pinnacle Bank Arena will play host to a couple of lightweights looking to throw down…
UFC Fight Night 135 heads to Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday and the Pinnacle Bank Arena will play host to a couple of lightweights looking to throw down…
Michael Johnson seeks not only a win in his next fight but redemption following his latest performance inside of the Octagon.
Michael Johnson Seeks
Johnson is looking to get his hand raised once again as it’s been a bit since that has happened as he has lost this last three fights. Those losses came to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission at UFC 205 and Justin Gaethje by KO in the second round last July.
In his latest fight, he fought at featherweight for the first time in his pro-MMA career. The start of the fight was great but the second round was his downfall. Johnson looked great at lightweight at first then had to make the move down to featherweight division this past January against Darren Elkins at UFC St. Louis. As seen in the fight, he suffered a second-round rear-naked choke loss.
Redemption
Michael Johnson seeks to get back to his winning ways as he prepares to fight Elkins’ Team Alpha Male squadmate, Andre Fili at the UFC Lincoln event.
“I definitely need to get in here and get a win, I know that,” Johnson told MMA Fighting.“Not only for the sake of my position, but for my sanity, for one, and for things that I want [in my career] and for things that I’m wanting in life. I have to go in there, I have to get a win, I have to keep progressing. I can’t take any steps back now.
Shocked
“I’m still shocked from that (Elkins) fight, how I ended up losing. It’s just like everybody who saw it. I was pretty much having my way with him the whole first round, and I just made a little mistake and that’s our sport, and that’s our world, and it cost me. And I didn’t really recover too well and I rushed out of a spot, so all I take from that is I have to stay focused.”
UFC Lincoln (also known as UFC Fight Night 135) is set to take place on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. The main card will air on FOX Sports 1 at 10 p.m. ET. The preliminary card will be split broadcasted on FOX Sports 2 at 8 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
“I have to believe in my training and believe in myself. Believe in what I can do. I kinda froze up on the ground in that first fight, and that’s not happening anymore.”
“[It’s going to be] a beautiful destruction. I’m going to go in there and I’m going to be as sharp as possible. Everything is just going to be on-point. There’s no mistakes that can be made in this fight. Everybody tries to be perfect, I have to be perfect in this fight.”
Michael Johnson will be competing at featherweight for the second time in his career when he takes on Andre “Touchy” Fili this Saturday at UFC Lincoln. Johnson loss that debut to Darren Elkins in January by submission in the second round, which marks t…
Michael Johnson will be competing at featherweight for the second time in his career when he takes on Andre “Touchy” Fili this Saturday at UFC Lincoln. Johnson loss that debut to Darren Elkins in January by submission in the second round, which marks the third consecutive loss for Johnson. That’s not all. Michael Johnson has […]
