Lightweight contender Michael Johnson hasn’t been seen in the Octagon since being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205.
Johnson is currently training in the gym and he is looking to compete on the upcoming UFC 213 card.
“I offered the UFC a few people I’d like to fight, and they said they’d get back to me,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I don’t know if these guys are waiting to see if they want to take the fight or not, but I have no idea. I have no idea what’s going on right now, to tell you the truth. That’s what I’m keeping my fingers crossed for (fighting at UFC 213) and what I’m training for, and if not, then we’ll go from there,”
The fighter could've returned sooner, because he did agree to replace Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 after he pulled out of a fight against Tony Ferguson. Ferguson turned down the fight against the short notice opponent.
Even though the fight didn’t come together at UFC 209, the returning Johnson wouldn’t mind getting in the Octagon with Ferguson down the line.
“I know he’s ahead of me, but I’ve offered it twice, and he’s said no both times,” he said. “So now I’m going to sit back and let that loss stick to him a little longer.”
UFC 213 takes place on Saturday, July 8 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with nomain event announced at this time. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
