Tag: Timothy Johnson

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] felt a little slighted by the betting odds going into Bellator 239.

Johnson (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) came up big as a heavy underdog, when he knocked Tyrell Fortune out of the ranks of the unbeaten with a big right hand in the first round.

Johnson’s upset victory meant he was able to avoid a three-fight losing skid, while also picking up his first promotional win. The former UFC fighter was written off from the start, but was confident that he was going to deliver come fight night.

“I did, no one else really did and, from what I’m hearing, the commentators didn’t really, either,” Johnson told reporters, including MMA Junkie after his victory. “But I think I had a good fight plan and I implemented it and, all things said and done, I don’t think Tyrell has anything to hang his head about, he’s still going to be awesome. He’s so young in the heavyweight division, it’s ridiculous. With that said also, I think a lot of people were kind of counting me out.

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“I went 4-3 in the UFC, fought some really tough guys there, came here, I fought two of the top guys in the heavyweight division and did not go my way, and people were really quick to write me off and I just did not want to be a stepping stone. I refused to let that happen tonight.”

Johnson’s first two fights with Bellator were quick first-round knockout losses, but they came against the division’s best in Cheick Kongo and former Bellator heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov.

But now that he’s back in the win column, Johnson hopes to string together a few wins and make his own run at the title.

“That’s the gameplan,” he said. “Hopefully this wasn’t a fluke and the body keeps up with me and I’m able to rack up a couple of wins here. Like I said, I think a lot of people were calling me out, thinking I was on my way out the door and I’m not even close – that’s not me. It’s the practice room, I’m fighting Francis Ngannou, Carl and Roy (Nelson) and all these guys and I’m hanging with them. It’s just I’m not able to put it together all the time in the cage.”

THACKERVILLE, OKLA. —[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] plans on taking his Bellator career in a different direction.

The veteran heavyweight seeks to shake off a two-fight losing streak which started his run with the Viacom-owned organization. Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) takes on blue-chip prospect Tyrell Fortune in the main card of Friday’s Bellator 239.

Despite his current position, Johnson knows he still has the time to turn things around in his career, even 10 years deep in the game.

“I’m getting up there, but I’m not an old man yet, I’m still 34,” Johnson told MMA Junkie. I have a couple of years left in me guaranteed, so I definitely want to make it a stepping stone, turn that around, you know.

“I’m on two-fight losing skid and that’s never happened to me before so that’s some uncharted territory. I definitely don’t want to make it three, but like I said, anything can happen in the fight game. A win would be great, get another contract and one thing I really want is to be more active, get three fights a year. That would be awesome.”

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Fortune is a former NCAA Division II national champion wrestler and is considered one of the most promising fighters in MMA today. He started his career in late 2016 and has gone 8-0 since, with six stoppage wins.

Johnson is well aware of the challenge that’s ahead.

“I think Tyrell is the most decorated prospect in the heavyweight division no matter what organization it is,” Johnson said.

“He’s got a heck of a name, he’s got a heck of a pedigree, he’s an undefeated prospect, and he goes in there and finishes people. So both of us want to put on a good fight, and that’s all you can ask for. And say things don’t go my way, losing to him is not the end of the world, as opposed to losing to a different prospect. Tyrell has a big future ahead of him in MMA and I think everyone knows that.”

Bellator 239 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino Resort. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] was not re-signed by the UFC despite coming off of a win.

Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) compiled a 4-3 record inside the octagon, but admits his release from the UFC did not come as much of a surprise.

His fighting style just didn’t cut it, but Johnson said there’s no ill-will.

“Honestly, my contract ran out and there wasn’t a lot of interest from them really re-signing me,” Johnson told MMA Junkie. “I think a lot of that had to do with my fighting style. I’ll be the most honest person about myself. I’m not an entertaining fighter. I know that, and unfortunately our end game is put rear ends in the seats. And no matter what records are – you can even look at (PFL fighter) Jared Rosholt. His UFC record I think was 6-2 or something, and he got (released). It’s his fighting style. So I can’t have much hate for that.”

In his final bout with the promotion, Johnson scored a unanimous decision win over Marcelo Golm at UFC Fight Night 125. He used a clinch-heavy approach and tried to wear Golm out.

That strategy ultimately may have helped cost him his job, despite getting the win.

“I went into that fight trying to grind out a win so I can get a new contract, but actually it worked against me,” he said. “But I’m happy now where we’re at, and everything moves on.”

Johnson signed with Bellator, but has yet to pick up his first promotional win. He suffered back-to-back stoppage losses to Cheick Kongo and Vitaly Minikov.

He returns to action Feb. 21 at Bellator 239 when he takes on undefeated rising heavyweight star Tyrell Fortune.

It’s a familiar position for Johnson, who’s accustomed to taking on highly touted prospects like Shamil Abdurakhimov and Marcin Tybura, both of whom he defeated during his UFC tenure.

“My UFC career, I think I fought for three or four (opponents’) debuts,” Johnson said. “That was my nickname. If you want to be a gatekeeper, call yourself the ‘prospect killer,’ because I kind of beat a lot of prospects.”