In a 130lb catchweight necessitated by Charles Johnson stepping up on short notice, the former LFA champ faced off with Ode Osbourne at UFC Vegas 70.
Saturday’s Fight Night card would be the last to take place at the UFC Apex for at least the next six weeks, with stops at the T-Mobile Arena, the O2 in London, and Kansas City among the promotion’s upcoming destinations.
The bout was evenly matched throughout, with both men staying on their feet until late into the second frame. Osbourne was the more active fighter, throwing a wide variety of strikes to slow the momentum of his opponent. Johnson, however, was the more accurate striker, picking his spots and creating angles to find openings, mixing his attack nicely from the body to the head.
The third and final round featured much more grappling than the rounds prior. Both men left everything out in the cage, emptying their gas tanks in the waning moments of the bout.
The bout went to to the scorecards, ending in a split decision where Osbourne was crowned victorious in what was a must-win fight for him. Osbourne will look to parlay this victory with another one soon, while Johnson is unlikely to leave the outcome of his next fight to the judges.
Official Result: Ode Osbourne def. Charles Johnson by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
