Johnson leaves behind day job, attempts to earn living in UFC
Michael Johnson occasionally stillgoes into Cheddar’s restaurant in Springfield, Mo., but the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight has a different attitude when he goes there now.
“No more waiting tables. I actually get waited on,” Johnson said with a laugh.
“I’m still friends with the manager and I still know all the people that work there. It’s great to go into that place and talk to them and catch up, but it’s also great not to have to wake up every morning and say, ‘Damn, not this again.’ “
Johnson was able to quit his day job when he made it onto “The Ultimate Fighter” last season. Though he came up just short in his title fight against Jonathan Brookins in December, he will get another shot in the organization against Edward Faaloloto on the “UFC on Versus 4” card on June 26 in Pittsburgh.
This time, Johnson’s opponent won’t be someone he shared a house with for six weeks, as he did with Brookins during “The Ultimate Fighter” filming.
“I’m not fighting a friend,” Johnson said. “I’m going in there against a guy who just wants to beat me up and we’re pretty much fighting for our lives. This is what we do for a living and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Since the show, Johnson has spent time at several training camps, including Greg Jackson’s gym in New Mexico, but said he especially enjoys training in Florida. He said it has been helpful to receive instruction from a variety of top camps, but he still maintains his residence in his native Springfield.
“I think it’s good for me to still have my home base — to be able to get away and cool out and then go back out and get away for my camps,” Johnson said.
He also knows a pretty good place to eat there.
■ RECOVERING CHAMPIONS — Two UFC champions are on the mend and eyeing returns to the cage this year.
Light heavyweight Jon Jones pulled out of a scheduled fight against former training partner Rashad Evans to have surgery on a torn ligament in his thumb, but has since decided against surgery.
Jones’ agent, Malki Kawa, announced the decision on Twitter with a stream of posts indicating the surgeon informed Jones surgery would not be necessary.
The recent development has reignited the rivalry between Jones and Evans. They have been exchanging slams on Twitter and reportedly were involved in a confrontation at Surrender nightclub at Encore last week.
Evans suggested Jones has been faking the injury to avoid the fight. Jones has been seen in a cast and must wear it until at least June 11, according to Kawa.
Also, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre said his eye is fully recovered and he’s back in to the gym. St. Pierre suffered bleeding (hyphema) in his eye after getting poked by Jake Shields during a title defense April 30 in Toronto.
■ TWITTER BONUSES — While many sports leagues have imposed strict regulations on social media, the UFC is encouraging its use, offering fighters incentives to embrace the technology.
At last week’s fighter’s summit at Red Rock Resort, the organization announced a bonus system to encourage Twitter use among fighters. Each quarter, $5,000 bonuses will be awarded for most followers, highest-percentage increase in followers and most creative tweets.
■ BELLATOR — Michael Chandler won the Bellator Season 4 lightweight tournament and a title shot against Eddie Alvarez with a unanimous decision victory over Patricky “Pitbull” Frieire on Saturday in Atlantic City. The victory came a week after Chandler’s Xtreme Couture teammate Jay Hierson won the Bellator welterweight tournament.
Also on the card, Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard knocked out Falaniko Vitale in a nontitle bout. The victory extended the former Olympian’s unbeaten streak to 23 fights.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.
