UFC News & FeaturesUFC on ESPN 63 Prelims: Michael Johnson Nukes Ottman Azaitar in Tampa
Michael
Johnson still has more than enough firepower to make noise in
the
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 finalist punched out former Brave Combat Federation champion Ottman Azaitar in the second round of their featured UFC on ESPN 63 prelim on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. In his first appearance since July 15, 2023, Azaitar (13-3, 2-3 UFC) crashed and burned 2:03 into Round 2.
A tepid and mostly uneventful first five minutes gave way to a
highlight-reel finish for one of the UFC’s most seasoned
competitors. Azaitar set off a wild exchange in the center of the
cage, showing no regard for his own safety. Johnson (23-19, 15-15
UFC) ducked out of danger and cut loose with a crushing right hook
on the counter. Azaitar was out before he hit the mat, where he was
met with a few more punches before referee Jason Herzog could
cordon off the scene.
Meanwhile, Bandog Fight Club star Joel Alvarez wiped out Drakkar Klose with a flying knee and follow-up punches in the first round of their lightweight confrontation. Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC) bowed out 2:48 into Round 1, his four-fight winning streak having run its course.
Alvarez (22-3, 7-2 UFC) withstood a takedown and a few leg kicks, then put his well-rounded offensive skills to use. He staggered Klose with a slashing left cross, connected with a flying knee and flirted with a guillotine up against the fence. Recognizing his counterpart’s compromised condition, Alvarez bailed on the choke and chose instead to close the deal with a barrage of short punches.
All 22 of Alvarez’s professional victories have resulted in finishes.
Further down the undercard, Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Sean Woodson put away Fernando Padilla with punches in the first round of their featherweight encounter. Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC) brought it to a close with an exquisite multi-strike volley and follow-up ground-and-pound 4:58 into Round 1.
Padilla (16-6, 2-2 UFC) applied heavy pressure from the start but only walked himself into harm’s way. Woodson unleashed jabs and low kicks, all while effectively shielding himself from return fire. Late in the first round, he uncorked a devastating burst of punches—a right uppercut started it and a left hook finished it—that sent Padilla careening to the canvas in a dazed state. Woodson gave chase, crouched over the fallen former Fury Fighting Championship titleholder and prompted the stoppage with a series of unanswered punches.
The 32-year-old Woodson has won four fights in a row.
Finally, Allstars Training Center rep Felipe Lima called upon superior speed and unshakable composure, as he took a unanimous decision from onetime Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Miles Johns in their three-round featherweight clash. All three judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Lima (14-1, 2-0 UFC), who has rattled off 14 consecutive victories.
Johns (15-3, 6-3 UFC) struggled to get in gear and grew increasingly frustrated as time went on. Lima chipped away with a persistent jab, stout leg kicks and the occasional aerial attack. He threatened to finish it in the third round, where he executed a takedown, progressed to the back and made passes at multiple rear-naked chokes. Johns survived, but by then, the deficit he faced was too much to overcome.
The loss snapped a modest two-fight winning streak for Johns.
In other action, Miranda Maverick (15-5, 8-3 UFC) laid claim to a unanimous decision over Jamey-Lyn Horth (7-2, 2-2 UFC) in their three-round women’s flyweight tilt, drawing 29-28 marks from all three cageside judges; Davey Grant (17-7, 7-6 UFC) outstruck Ramon Taveras (10-3, 1-1 UFC) to a unanimous verdict—29-28, 30-27, 30-27—in their three-round bantamweight scrap; and Piera Rodriguez (10-2, 3-2 UFC) dominated the previously unbeaten Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (8-1, 2-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision in their three-round women’s strawweight pairing, banking 30-27 scores across the board.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 finalist punched out former Brave Combat Federation champion Ottman Azaitar in the second round of their featured UFC on ESPN 63 prelim on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. In his first appearance since July 15, 2023, Azaitar (13-3, 2-3 UFC) crashed and burned 2:03 into Round 2.
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Meanwhile, Bandog Fight Club star Joel Alvarez wiped out Drakkar Klose with a flying knee and follow-up punches in the first round of their lightweight confrontation. Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC) bowed out 2:48 into Round 1, his four-fight winning streak having run its course.
Related » UFC Tampa Round-by-Round Scoring
Alvarez (22-3, 7-2 UFC) withstood a takedown and a few leg kicks, then put his well-rounded offensive skills to use. He staggered Klose with a slashing left cross, connected with a flying knee and flirted with a guillotine up against the fence. Recognizing his counterpart’s compromised condition, Alvarez bailed on the choke and chose instead to close the deal with a barrage of short punches.
All 22 of Alvarez’s professional victories have resulted in finishes.
Further down the undercard, Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Sean Woodson put away Fernando Padilla with punches in the first round of their featherweight encounter. Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC) brought it to a close with an exquisite multi-strike volley and follow-up ground-and-pound 4:58 into Round 1.
Padilla (16-6, 2-2 UFC) applied heavy pressure from the start but only walked himself into harm’s way. Woodson unleashed jabs and low kicks, all while effectively shielding himself from return fire. Late in the first round, he uncorked a devastating burst of punches—a right uppercut started it and a left hook finished it—that sent Padilla careening to the canvas in a dazed state. Woodson gave chase, crouched over the fallen former Fury Fighting Championship titleholder and prompted the stoppage with a series of unanswered punches.
The 32-year-old Woodson has won four fights in a row.
Finally, Allstars Training Center rep Felipe Lima called upon superior speed and unshakable composure, as he took a unanimous decision from onetime Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Miles Johns in their three-round featherweight clash. All three judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Lima (14-1, 2-0 UFC), who has rattled off 14 consecutive victories.
Johns (15-3, 6-3 UFC) struggled to get in gear and grew increasingly frustrated as time went on. Lima chipped away with a persistent jab, stout leg kicks and the occasional aerial attack. He threatened to finish it in the third round, where he executed a takedown, progressed to the back and made passes at multiple rear-naked chokes. Johns survived, but by then, the deficit he faced was too much to overcome.
The loss snapped a modest two-fight winning streak for Johns.
In other action, Miranda Maverick (15-5, 8-3 UFC) laid claim to a unanimous decision over Jamey-Lyn Horth (7-2, 2-2 UFC) in their three-round women’s flyweight tilt, drawing 29-28 marks from all three cageside judges; Davey Grant (17-7, 7-6 UFC) outstruck Ramon Taveras (10-3, 1-1 UFC) to a unanimous verdict—29-28, 30-27, 30-27—in their three-round bantamweight scrap; and Piera Rodriguez (10-2, 3-2 UFC) dominated the previously unbeaten Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (8-1, 2-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision in their three-round women’s strawweight pairing, banking 30-27 scores across the board.
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