UFC’s Kajan Johnson Talks Future: “I Know That I’m as Good” as Top 10 Lightweights
Kajan Johnson (photo via UFC.com)
By Kelsey Mowatt
After a comeback year, which saw Kajan Johnson win consecutive fights over Lipeng Zhang and Naoyuki Kotani, the Tristar lightweight has a one goal in mind for 2016.
Johnson joined the UFC last year as part of the show’s TUF Nations competition, and after submitting Brendan O’Reilly, he was stopped by Chad Larpise in the show’s semifinals. Johnson also suffered a broken jaw in the bout, and in his next fight last June, he was KO’d by Tae Hyun Bang.
2015 has seen Johnson do nothing but win, however, and barring an unexpected, late booking, the 31 year-old will close out the year on a two fight winning streak. Recently, “Ragin” appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio, and when asked about his goals for next year, he stated:
“I want to be top ten in 2016,” said Johnson, who made his pro debut way back in 2002. “I think that I can pull that off. I know that I’m as good as the guys in the top ten. I just have to go and start beating some names.”
Johnson faced Zhang at UFC FN 66 in May, and worked his way to a unanimous decision win over the Chinese fighter. Then, more recently at UFC FN 75 in September, the Canadian earned a UD win over Japan’s Kotani.
“Both the guys I beat so far, were both coming off losses, so I need to start beating some winners, and then beating some guys that are on streaks, and then beating some guys in the top ten. So if I can get three or four fights in 2016, I think I could definitely be in the top ten.”
Johnson is hoping to work his way into the coveted top ten next year, but he understands that getting there won’t be easy.
“There’s killers too man. Even out of the top fifteen there’s a lot of killers in the 155 division dude. I don’t know how many we’re at, but it keeps increasing, the roster just keeps increasing. I know they’re cutting guys but they’re getting them faster than they’re cutting them…We’re going to have seven lightweights just in Tristar from the UFC. There’s so many lightweights…”
Johnson currently carries a record of 21-11-1.
