UFC on Fox 2: Michael Johnson is developing into a main card fighter

Michael Johnson is looking to put Spike TV, Facebook, Versus, Fox and Fuel behind him.

Johnson (Twitter: @FollowTheMenace) is set to enter the Octagon for the fourth time in his career on Saturday at UFC on Fox 2.  The Ultimate Fighter 12 finalist will square off with WEC veteran Shane Roller at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

Roller is on a two-fight losing skid, which means his back is to the wall in this bout and victory is a must.  To prepare for the eager three time All-American wrestler, Johnson has been training with the newest, fiercest team in MMA.

“I was with the Blackzilians,” Johnson told MMADieHards.com.  “I had Gesias Cavalcante, Rashad (Evans), Anthony Johnson, Tyrone Spong; pretty much the whole team helped me for this one.

“I think what makes our team so special and unique is that everybody knows exactly what to do and exactly how to get it.  Everybody is willing to work hard and everybody is willing to help.  We just feed off each other and it’s like one huge family.  Another good thing is that we have so many active fighters that we have fights weeks apart, so we’re all in training at once.  That’s how you know for sure that you have dedicated fighters and you will have someone there every day to push you.”

The Blackzilians have a plethora of talented Brazilians that are masters of jiu-jitsu, which is a plus for Johnson heading into this bout.

Six of Roller’s 10 victories came by way of submission.  He even pulled off four consecutive submission wins in his WEC days.  Submissions tend to be Johnson’s Achilles heel, as five of his six career losses came in the form of a tapout.  Johnson’s suffered defeat to Paul Sass at UFC Live: “Cruz vs. Johnson” in his most recent bought via heel-hook.

Johnson opted to improve and be sure to learn from his mistake rather than sit and dwell on the undesired outcome.

“It wasn’t so much of a surprise because I knew he was going to go for something like that,” Johnson admitted.  “It was just how he put it on.  He had it a certain way and I couldn’t get out of it, it won’t happen again, but he got me and my hat is off to him.  I completely forgot about it and went back to the gym.  I got a great jiu-jitsu coach and we worked on how to get out of it and that will never happen again.”

Though, Roller has the ability to submit his opponents, his base is wrestling.

Johnson is familiar with the former WEC fighter and is aware of Roller’s wrestling accolades.  The TUF 12 finalist understands the difference between collegiate wrestling and MMA wrestling, and believes that will make a drastic difference in the outcome of this fight.  If the contest goes the way Johnson intends it to there won’t be much grappling in this bout.

“I think we’re going to come out and bang,” Johnson stated.  “I watched Shane in his past fights, he’s a great collegiate wrestler, but there’s a difference between collegiate wrestling and MMA wrestling.  It’s a completely different world.  MMA wrestling is all about transitions and I think once I stuff a couple of his takedowns he’s going to have to try to find another way to beat me.  I plan to get a knockout in this fight.”

Since Johnson’s introduction to UFC fans through TUF there have been high expectations from him.  His coach on season 12, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, predicted Johnson would win the season and go on to have a bright career in the Octagon.  Fans were quick to jump aboard when Johnson made it to the finale of the Spike TV reality show and then defeated Eddie Faaloloto via TKO at UFC Live: “Kongo vs. Barry”.

With such high anticipation for Johnson, the pressure is mounting, but he uses it as a motivational tool as opposed to a distraction.

“It doesn’t get to me,” Johnson admitted.  “I just stay focused and train and do what I got to do to win.  I train hard every day, and if anything, it pushes me.  It pushes me to be better.”

Johnson came to fans’ attention via Spike TV, and then was featured on Facebook and Versus.  His bout against Roller is on the UFC on Fox 2 preliminary card which airs on Fuel.  Johnson finds fighting on television beneficial to the growth of his career, but he aspires to have his bouts broadcast through a different venue very soon.

“The nice thing about it is that people get to see me develop as a fighter,” Johnson said.  “But, definitely getting on a pay-per-view main card is something I want to do in the near future.  I’m hoping for some time this summer.”