Charles Johnson
InnerG
USA
Quick turnaround scheduled
Johnson will fight fellow flyweight Asu Almabayev at UFC Baku on June 27, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Less than three weeks after defeating Bruno Silva via split decision, Johnson will focus on continuing to build positive momentum by preparing for and defeating Almabayev in Baku. Both fighters are coming off wins, though the latter had withdrawn from a February fight with Brandon Moreno, so his latest win has come off much before Johnson's recent effort.
Less than three weeks after defeating Bruno Silva via split decision, Johnson will focus on continuing to build positive momentum by preparing for and defeating Almabayev in Baku. Both fighters are coming off wins, though the latter had withdrawn from a February fight with Brandon Moreno, so his latest win has come off much before Johnson's recent effort.
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Gets right back in win column
Johnson defeated Bruno Silva via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
The 30-27 scorecard in favor of Johnson seems quite ridiculous since all three rounds could have gone either way, but Charles appeared to do just enough to win. The fact Johnson was able emerge victorious in a fight in which he seemed out of sorts the entire way says something. It was Silva that was constantly pushing the pace and making it a scrap, while Charles primarily countered. The most damaging blows did come from the Johnson side, and he closed with a 85-73 edge in significant strikes landed, but neither man could have felt great about their chances when the final bell rang. It's a big win for CJ on the heels of his first-round knockout loss to a heavy Alex Perez a mere seven weeks ago.
The 30-27 scorecard in favor of Johnson seems quite ridiculous since all three rounds could have gone either way, but Charles appeared to do just enough to win. The fact Johnson was able emerge victorious in a fight in which he seemed out of sorts the entire way says something. It was Silva that was constantly pushing the pace and making it a scrap, while Charles primarily countered. The most damaging blows did come from the Johnson side, and he closed with a 85-73 edge in significant strikes landed, but neither man could have felt great about their chances when the final bell rang. It's a big win for CJ on the heels of his first-round knockout loss to a heavy Alex Perez a mere seven weeks ago.
Filling in for Silva
Johnson will fight Bruno Silva at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Johnson will be filling in for Lone'er Kavanagh, who withdrew from the fight Tuesday for unknown reasons. Johnson lost his first fight of 2026 against Alex Perez, but the former's four-inch reach advantage over Silva will help his chances of bouncing back in March.
Johnson will be filling in for Lone'er Kavanagh, who withdrew from the fight Tuesday for unknown reasons. Johnson lost his first fight of 2026 against Alex Perez, but the former's four-inch reach advantage over Silva will help his chances of bouncing back in March.
Knocked out by heavy opponent
Johnson lost to Alex Perez via TKO (punches) at 3:16 of Round 1 at UFC 324 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Johnson entered having won five of six, including a knockout win over current UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van back in July 2024. He agreed to to face Perez here despite the fact the latter missed weight by 2.5 pounds on Friday morning and ended up paying for it in a massive way. Johnson -- who had never been knocked out in his professional career -- was dropped by Perez early and hung on for a couple minutes for a couple minutes before getting put away for good. It's a crushing setback for the 35-year-old, regardless of if his opponent missed weight or not. There just isn't much room for error at the top of the 125-pound division these days.
Johnson entered having won five of six, including a knockout win over current UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van back in July 2024. He agreed to to face Perez here despite the fact the latter missed weight by 2.5 pounds on Friday morning and ended up paying for it in a massive way. Johnson -- who had never been knocked out in his professional career -- was dropped by Perez early and hung on for a couple minutes for a couple minutes before getting put away for good. It's a crushing setback for the 35-year-old, regardless of if his opponent missed weight or not. There just isn't much room for error at the top of the 125-pound division these days.
Fighting heavier Perez
Johnson is scheduled to compete against Alex Perez in a catchweight fight Saturday at Las Vegas, per Aaron Bronsteter of Sportsnet.
ANALYSIS
Johnson successfully made it under the UFC's flyweight limit, but because Perez did not, the former will fight a heavier opponent come Saturday. Johnson is both 0-2 in UFC catchweight fights and 5-1 across his last six promotional bouts.
Johnson successfully made it under the UFC's flyweight limit, but because Perez did not, the former will fight a heavier opponent come Saturday. Johnson is both 0-2 in UFC catchweight fights and 5-1 across his last six promotional bouts.
Perez on pay-per-view
Johnson is scheduled to compete against fellow flyweight Alex Perez at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on Jan. 24, per Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
UFC 324 will feature two flyweights trying to enter their division's top-10. Johnson established the FW ranking's No. 13 spot by knocking out Lone'er Kavanagh at UFC Shanghai in August. By handily defeating Perez, ranked No. 11, perhaps Johnson can become a top-10 contender.
UFC 324 will feature two flyweights trying to enter their division's top-10. Johnson established the FW ranking's No. 13 spot by knocking out Lone'er Kavanagh at UFC Shanghai in August. By handily defeating Perez, ranked No. 11, perhaps Johnson can become a top-10 contender.