Michael Johnson still has a lot left in the tank.
Johnson (21-19 MMA, 13-15 UFC) enters his 29th octagon bout when he takes on Darrius Flowers (12-6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 236 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
The 37-year-old Season 12 “Ultimate Fighter” finalist showed serious potential earlier in his career when he defeated Tony Ferguson and knocked out Dustin Poirier, but has struggled in recent years. He’s had a lot of inconsistencies throughout his career, but hasn’t lost his desire to compete.
“(I’m) just keeping my mind on the goal, and that goal is to be victorious – to get in here, enjoy the process, and see where it goes from there,” Johnson said at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 236 media day. “I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and I’m not finished by a long shot.”
Johnson will look to rebound from his knockout loss to Diego Ferreira this past May, and says he’s had plenty of time to do so. He spent some time training with Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix in preparation for Flowers.
“You’ll be looking for the best Michael Johnson you guys have seen to date,” Johnson said. “I’ve been training for this fight since like November, maybe even a little bit before that, because I was trying to get into the octagon late last year. So, I’ve been preparing all year. I’m in great shape, my mentality is great, and I’m ready to go in here, enjoy this process, and get the win.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.
