Since then, he has made the trip to the Octagon 29 times. Michael Johnson will do so again when he fights 155-pound knockout artist Ottman Azaitar on Saturday night at UFC Tampa.

“The Bulldozer” is a few steps below the level of competition Johnson faced at the peak of his career, when he went up against several top contenders who went on to achieve greatness and become legends of the sport.

Michael Johnson names his toughest opponent

Michael Johnson’s resume is full of top contenders and UFC icons.

The 38-year-old has high-profile victories against Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Edson Barboza.

Johnson has also shared the cage with Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje. They both beat him, but the American insists no one gave him a tougher fight than Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 in November 2016.

The 29-0 Russian famously told Johnson: “You have to give up” while pumping the brakes on the undercard of Conor McGregor’s lightweight title win over Eddie Alvarez.

Five years later, Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked about the toughest opponent of his career.

“It has to be Khabib,” Johnson said during an interview with Helen Yee in September 2021.

“It was hard. I took this fight with about two or three weeks’ notice, which people don’t really talk about, which is fine, but I just wasn’t prepared to fight someone of that caliber.

“I just saw the opportunity. I thought, ‘Damn, why not?’ It’s a big risk with a big reward.”

“Of course I’m going to fight the best of the best at Madison Square Garden. That just fascinated me, fighting against it.

“It was definitely one of the toughest and I learned a lot from that fight.”

Who is the greatest of all time?

Although Michael Johnson was seriously impressed by Khabib Nurmagomedov, he didn’t name him the greatest of all time a year after his victory over Justin Gaethje and his retirement from the sport with a perfect record in 2020.

Jon Jones tops his list having fought longer and defeated UFC stars from three different generations at light heavyweight and heavyweight.

When asked to name his GOAT, Johnson added: “It’s really hard not to say Jon is at the top of that list.

“Just based on the champions he beat and everyone likes that. Khabib is definitely at the top of the list. I don’t think I would give him the top spot on the list based solely on the quality of opponents he has beaten, Jon Jones.

“It’s very close between these two guys.”

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