Timothy Johnson: A Throwback Fighter Always Willing to Throw Down
Timothy Johnson: A Throwback Fighter Always Willing to Throw Down
UFC heavyweight Timothy Johnson talks about his life fighting inside the cage and on the fire squad.
UFC heavyweight prospect Timothy Johnson is a combat sports throwback in every sense of the word.
From his signature handlebar mustache, his wrestle-heavy fighting style to his desire to stay busy by holding down a full-time job outside of the sport, you would be hard pressed to identify if he was a fighter competing in 1997 or 2017.
In an official announcement made last week, the bruising North Dakota native will be back in action on March 18 th at UFC Fight Night London when he makes the walk once again, this time to face Poland's Daniel Omielanczuk in a battle of top 15 ranked heavyweights.
"I think this is a good fight for both of us." Johnson said. "We're both sitting on the outside looking in. A win for either of us should put us around that number 10 spot. He has some solid kicks and good overall striking. He actually fights like me. Let's hit each other and see who drops first. Either way it goes, I think it's a good matchup for the spectators."
Aug 8, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Jared Rosholt (red gloves) fights against Timothy Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson is coming off a loss to former Bellator Heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov in his most recent fight at UFC Fight Night 99 in November. He suffered a razor thin decision loss in what was his stiffest test to date against the highest caliber opponent of his career.
"My takeaway is that he has an iron chin." Johnson said. "I never hit someone so hard and then have them look at me and see that they weren't dazed in the least. Right after that uppercut, I laid down a lot of really hard ground and pound. That was the first time I have ever let myself get to the point of having that adrenaline dump in the cage. It wore me out a bit in the third round."
"After watching the fight a handful of times, I think the fight could have gone either way. I watched that second round and I just didn't know where the score was favoring him. That one is done. Let's move on to the next one. Deep down I think I won the fight but I won't sit here and piss and moan about it. That just makes me sound like an idiot."
Suffering a controversial decision loss has put Johnson in not so exclusive company. Unfortunately, that is an all too familiar scenario for far too many fighters in current day MMA.
The topic of an overhaul in judging and scoring in MMA is not a new one. Twenty plus years on the question still remains. What changes can be made to make outcomes more reasonable when it goes to the judges' scorecards?
Johnson admits he has absolutely no idea.
Aug 8, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Jared Rosholt (red gloves) fights against Timothy Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
"I have no clue." Johnson said. "During my regional career I had an idea of what I thought the judges wanted. Now that I have seen so many decisions go this way I honestly don't know what I am supposed to do to get the judges to score in my favor. Going out there to finish is the end goal but in between rounds you know if you won the round or not. I don't even know anymore."
Living the full time fighter lifestyle was not for the blue-collar, hardworking Johnson. He has enough work experience to full two resumes. He is a jack of all trades and a master of some, spending time behind the wheel as a truck driver, looking tough in a bar, and even serving our country in the army national guard.
"I spent years doing road construction." Johnson said. "I ran a jackhammer 14 to 15 hours a day, six days a week. I drove truck. It was something I always did on the side. Growing up on a farm, I knew how to drive a large truck before I knew how to drive a car.
"In seven weeks leading up to the Rosholt fight I had some extra money in the bank. I didn't need to work. I felt like I had too much downtime. It affected me. I felt lazy. It was more mental than anything but I really like staying busy."
The no frills Johnson would be just as comfortable working around Royce Gracie's gi and guard at UFC 1 or circling Dan Severn for 20 minutes at UFC 5. He recognizes that his appearance and style is a throwback to an earlier time in combat sports and one that many fans appreciate.
"It happened accidentally." Johnson said. "I embrace it. I am still developing. I have been training mixed martial arts for less than three years. I am still learning who I am. I am more than happy to embrace that idea rather than trying all of this spinning stuff."
Apparently we will not see Johnson attempting Anthony Pettis' signature Showtime kick anytime soon.
"I'm not going to take it off the table but it won't be there for my upcoming fight." Johnson said. "I have been working on my flying triangles. They have been looking pretty good lately."
From his signature handlebar mustache, his wrestle-heavy fighting style to his desire to stay busy by holding down a full-time job outside of the sport, you would be hard pressed to identify if he was a fighter competing in 1997 or 2017.
In an official announcement made last week, the bruising North Dakota native will be back in action on March 18 th at UFC Fight Night London when he makes the walk once again, this time to face Poland's Daniel Omielanczuk in a battle of top 15 ranked heavyweights.
"I think this is a good fight for both of us." Johnson said. "We're both sitting on the outside looking in. A win for either of us should put us around that number 10 spot. He has some solid kicks and good overall striking. He actually fights like me. Let's hit each other and see who drops first. Either way it goes, I think it's a good matchup for the spectators."
Aug 8, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Jared Rosholt (red gloves) fights against Timothy Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson is coming off a loss to former Bellator Heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov in his most recent fight at UFC Fight Night 99 in November. He suffered a razor thin decision loss in what was his stiffest test to date against the highest caliber opponent of his career.
"My takeaway is that he has an iron chin." Johnson said. "I never hit someone so hard and then have them look at me and see that they weren't dazed in the least. Right after that uppercut, I laid down a lot of really hard ground and pound. That was the first time I have ever let myself get to the point of having that adrenaline dump in the cage. It wore me out a bit in the third round."
"After watching the fight a handful of times, I think the fight could have gone either way. I watched that second round and I just didn't know where the score was favoring him. That one is done. Let's move on to the next one. Deep down I think I won the fight but I won't sit here and piss and moan about it. That just makes me sound like an idiot."
Suffering a controversial decision loss has put Johnson in not so exclusive company. Unfortunately, that is an all too familiar scenario for far too many fighters in current day MMA.
The topic of an overhaul in judging and scoring in MMA is not a new one. Twenty plus years on the question still remains. What changes can be made to make outcomes more reasonable when it goes to the judges' scorecards?
Johnson admits he has absolutely no idea.
Aug 8, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Jared Rosholt (red gloves) fights against Timothy Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
"I have no clue." Johnson said. "During my regional career I had an idea of what I thought the judges wanted. Now that I have seen so many decisions go this way I honestly don't know what I am supposed to do to get the judges to score in my favor. Going out there to finish is the end goal but in between rounds you know if you won the round or not. I don't even know anymore."
Living the full time fighter lifestyle was not for the blue-collar, hardworking Johnson. He has enough work experience to full two resumes. He is a jack of all trades and a master of some, spending time behind the wheel as a truck driver, looking tough in a bar, and even serving our country in the army national guard.
"I spent years doing road construction." Johnson said. "I ran a jackhammer 14 to 15 hours a day, six days a week. I drove truck. It was something I always did on the side. Growing up on a farm, I knew how to drive a large truck before I knew how to drive a car.
"In seven weeks leading up to the Rosholt fight I had some extra money in the bank. I didn't need to work. I felt like I had too much downtime. It affected me. I felt lazy. It was more mental than anything but I really like staying busy."
The no frills Johnson would be just as comfortable working around Royce Gracie's gi and guard at UFC 1 or circling Dan Severn for 20 minutes at UFC 5. He recognizes that his appearance and style is a throwback to an earlier time in combat sports and one that many fans appreciate.
"It happened accidentally." Johnson said. "I embrace it. I am still developing. I have been training mixed martial arts for less than three years. I am still learning who I am. I am more than happy to embrace that idea rather than trying all of this spinning stuff."
Apparently we will not see Johnson attempting Anthony Pettis' signature Showtime kick anytime soon.
"I'm not going to take it off the table but it won't be there for my upcoming fight." Johnson said. "I have been working on my flying triangles. They have been looking pretty good lately."