Flyweight Charles Johnson was looking to get out of the Apex, but on Saturday he was back at the UFC’s own private venue, paired up with Azat Maksum in a preliminary card fight at UFC Vegas 85.
This marked Johnson’s sixth fight in a row to take place in the UFC Apex.
Both fighters started off fast as the action began, trading blows. Maksum landed a big right hand straightaway, dropping Johnson to his back. “Qazaq” followed him down to the ground where he sunk in a d’arce choke, but Johnson carried on wriggling around to try and stay out of danger. Johnson did well to shake off the submission attempt and subsequently made it back to his fight. Maksum looked the faster boxer of the two, catching Johnson with every jab he threw. Again Maksum hurt Johnson with his lightening fast hands, with “InnerG” uncomfortable with every strike he was eating. Johnson began trying to control the pace of the fight by pushing Maksum back with some strikes, and began landing some strikes to the Kazakh’s body. The former LFA flyweight champion did well to get back into the fight after a disappointing start, and did well to make it into round two.
As round two began, Charles Johnson looked to be more active coming out throwing a leg kicks, but again, the speed of Maksum cause havoc for the 33-year-old. Just over a minute into the second round, Johnson landed a great right hand, ducked under the return shot from Maksum and took the back of “Qazaq”. Maksum did well to shake off Johnson though and ended up in a more dominant position. They made it back to their feet and Maksum continued being the one who pressed forward with the more accurate strikes. Johnson began making the fight scrappy, trying to use his experience to overwhelm Maksum who is four years his younger. The horn sounded for the end of round two, with the fight looking more competitive.
At the beginning of round three, Maksum looked to have caught a second wind. A minute and a half into the final round, Maksum secured a single leg takedown, but Johnson did well again to pop back up to his feet. The two separated and began trading strikes again. The right hand of Azat Maksum continued to find a home on Johnson’s chin, with two minutes left, it was seemingly his fight to lose. Despite that, “InnerG” carried on trying to find a big shot to really hurt the 29-year-old. Johnson caught Maksum in a ninja choke against the cage and he seemed to have heavy pressure applied on the choke. Johnson decided to break the grip and it seemed as though Maksum wobbled as though he was about to fall unconscious. To finish the fight, Johnson secured a double leg takedown and finished the fight on top.
The fight ended with it being up in the air who’s name would be called the victor. Turns out, it was Charles Johnson, who then called for a spot on UFC 300.
Official Result: Charles Johnson def. Azat Maksum by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
