Michael Johnson was a finalist on the UFC Ultimate Fighter and he is currently the sixth ranked Lightweight in the UFC right now, but still feels like people are overlooking him heading into UFC 205.
“It seems like that’s the trend – it seems like no matter what I do, people are going to pick the other guy or overlook me,” Johnson told MMA Junkie. “I’ve come to terms with it now. I’m fine with it. It’s been like that my whole career, and I hope it continues that way. I’m here to (expletive) up everyone’s plans – I’ll tell you that right now. I’ll throw a huge wrench in it. Me beating him puts me at the top of the list. I have a win over (Tony) Ferguson. I have a win over Edson (Barboza). It puts me at the top of the list to be next in line for that title shot, and if not, then I’ll continue to train and I’ll continue to fight.”
Johnson is facing Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205, with major lightweight implications. Johnson feels that Nurmagomedov’s claims at being the top contender in the lightweight division are a little far fetched.
“Who’d he beat to fight for the title?” Johnson asked. “Everybody says this guy should fight for the title, he’s undefeated, he’s done that … he’s fought, what, seven times in the UFC? – He’s beaten one good person, and that’s (Rafael) dos Anjos. Everyone else has been trash, really. I think he’s getting too much credit and he doesn’t deserve it. He needs to beat better guys and be more active, and then he might get his title shot. But after Saturday, he’s going to be far away from one. Dos Anjos was a big test, but I don’t thinkdos Anjos was as good as he is now when he fought him. But I think I’m his biggest test to date and his biggest competition for sure.”
UFC 205 takes place on Saturday, November 12 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor headlining.
