Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘felt like a middleweight’

Michael Johnson fought the who’s who in MMA – together with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Johnson was submitted by Nurmagomedov within the third spherical of their light-weight bout at UFC 205 in November 2016. Johnson hung robust, however Nurmagomedov’s grappling proved to be too overwhelming.

“I fought mine on two weeks’ discover,” Johnson mentioned on the “Overdogs Podcast.” “No one even talks about that. I used to be doing a tour for the troops, they usually gave me the decision.”

Johnson’s combat with Nurmagomedov produced one of the crucial notorious in-octagon clips the place “The Eagle” was heard telling Johnson, “You must quit, I have to combat for the title,” earlier than finally yanking his arm for the kimura win.

“I used to be like, ‘F*ck you!’ Johnson recalled. “Hit him with a backhand like, ‘I’m nonetheless in it. I can’t transfer, however I’m in it. I wasn’t going to f*cking quit. He’s good. I went into that combat, his wrestling is all I thought of. His wrestling, his wrestling, his wrestling. So, I wasn’t fascinated with myself, and that was the error.

“I simply went in there sort of ready for him to shoot, looking for my motions. I used to be sort of crouched down, and I couldn’t actually transfer round. Bro, he’s good, sturdy. He felt like a middleweight, and that’s an issue. I couldn’t transfer, however he helped me get higher. I went again to the fitness center and began engaged on that so, with out that combat I wouldn’t be right here.”

Nurmagomedov would go on to seize the UFC light-weight title and defend it 3 times earlier than hanging up his gloves undefeated.

“Right here’s the factor, if I might’ve gone in there and bought a knockout, I might take over every thing,” Johnson mentioned.

Johnson (23-19 MMA, 15-15 UFC) has since had combined outcomes, however remains to be trucking in arguably the game’s hardest division. He’s contemporary off a Efficiency of the Evening knockout of Ottman Azaitar earlier this month at UFC on ESPN 63.