Longtime UFC veteran Michael Johnson kicked off the UFC 318 card on Saturday, paired up with a young up-and-comer in Daniel Zellhuber.
The lightweight fight found Zellhuber looking to bounce back from a loss to Esteban Ribovics at Noche UFC last September, a bout that had earned Fight of the Night at the award-winning event. As for Johnson, the 39-year old had won two straight.
Oddly, Johnson’s shorts tore after a Zellhuber kick caught them in the opening minute of the fight. The ref called time, then ruled that the shorts would be replaced between rounds. Well, that was a new one. Action resumed, Johnson jabbed to the body, and Zellhuber circled, with the action playing out pretty much dead center of the cage. Zellhuber fired off a body kick, while Johnson, still working the body with his hands, fired a calf kick. Lots of kicks in an active opening round.
The second frame saw Zellhuber fire a spinning kick, but he was in too close and Johnson took advantage, firing off a quick combination. Zellhuber kept firing his kick to the body, one of which landed with a crack just about a minute in. Johnson, undeterred, kept walking forward. And as the round wore on, he began letting his hands go more and more. Zellhuber answered back, ripping off another high kick with two minutes on the clock. He then feinted a couple more kicks, keeping Johnson guessing. Then came a trio of kicks to the body and arm by Zellhuber, different heights. Johnson came back over the top, throwing leather in response.
The stand-up battle continued in the third, with the body shots continuing for Michael Johnson, and body kicks still flowing for Daniel Zellhuber. Zellhuber’s length was becoming a factor as well, as a spin kick followed by a front kick kept Johnson outside. Johnson would go after a takedown late in the third, only to slip off the attempt, putting himself at the mercy of the Mexican fighter. Zellhuber ended the round with a solid right hand, and they headed to the scorecards after fifteen minutes.
The judges awarded triplicate 29-28 scores to Michael “The Menace” Johnson in the end, proving he’s still a menace at nearly 40.
Official Result: Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
