Michael Johnson still has more than enough firepower to make a splash in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division.

The Season 12 finalist of “The Ultimate Fighter” knocked out former Brave Combat Federation champion Ottman Azaitar in the second round of their featured UFC on ESPN 63 prelims match 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.

The tepid and mostly uneventful first five minutes gave way to a high point for one of the UFC’s most experienced competitors. Azaitar unleashed a wild exchange in the middle of the cage with no regard for his own safety. Johnson (23-19, 15-15 UFC) ducked out of danger and followed through with a devastating right hook on the counter. Azaitar was out before he hit the mat, where he took a few more punches before referee Jason Herzog could cordon off the scene.

Meanwhile, Bandog Fight Club star Joel Alvarez defeated Drakkar Klose with a flying knee followed by punches in the first round of their lightweight bout.
Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC) was eliminated at 2:48 of Round 1 after his four-fight winning streak ended.

Alvarez (22-3, 7-2 UFC) withstood a takedown and some leg kicks and then used his versatile offensive skills. He tripped up Klose with a sharp cross to the left, countered with a flying knee and flirted with a guillotine against the fence. Recognizing his opponent’s compromised state, Alvarez grabbed the chokehold and instead opted to end the deal with a barrage of short punches.

All of Alvarez’s 22 professional wins resulted in placings.

Further down on the undercard, Dana White’s Contender Series alum Sean Woodson defeated Fernando Padilla with punches in the first round of their featherweight bout. Woodson (13-1-1, 7-1-1 UFC)
finished it off with an exquisite multi-strike volley followed by a ground-and-pound in 4:58 of Round 1.

Padilla (16-6, 2-2 UFC) applied heavy pressure from the start but only found himself in danger. Woodson unleashed jabs and low kicks while effectively protecting himself from return fire. Late in the first round, he unleashed a devastating blow – a right uppercut started it and a left hook finished it – that sent Padilla dazed to the canvas. Woodson gave chase, leaning over the fallen former Fury Fighting Championship titleholder and triggering the stoppage with a series of unanswered punches.

Woodson, 32, has won four fights in a row.

Finally, Allstars Training Center representative Felipe Lima demanded superior speed and unflappable composure as he earned a unanimous decision over former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Miles Johns in their three-round featherweight bout. All three judges had the same score: 30-27 for Lima (14-1, 2-0 UFC), which has won 14 straight.

Johns (15-3, 6-3 UFC) struggled to get going and became increasingly frustrated as time went on. Lima defended the ball with a persistent push, powerful leg kicks and occasional aerial attacks. He threatened to end it in the third round, where he executed a takedown, moved to the back and applied several rear-naked chokes. Johns survived, but by this point the deficit he faced was too great to overcome.

The loss ended a modest two-fight winning streak for Johns.

In another bout, Miranda Maverick (15-5, 8-3 UFC) staked claim to a unanimous decision over Jamey-Lyn Horth (7-2, 2-2 UFC) in their three-round women’s flyweight tournament with one Tie of 29-28 scores from all three cageside judges; Davey Grant (17-7, 7-6 UFC) beat Ramon Taveras (10-3, 1-1 UFC) with a unanimous decision – 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 – in their three-round fight at bantamweight; and Piera Rodriguez (10-2, 3-2 UFC) dominated previously undefeated Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (8-1, 2-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision in their three-round women’s strawweight duo, scoring a total of 30-27 plank points.