UFC Fight Night 26 Results: Michael Johnson Outworks Hometown Hero Lauzon

Michael Johnson showed that he has taken his game to a new level as he outworked hometown hero, Joe Lauzon (22-9) on route to an unanimous decision on the main card at UFC Fight Night 26 from the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday night.

The judges scored the bout, (30-27, 30-27, 30-25) all in favor of Johnson.

Lauzon looked to press forward in the opening minutes of the fight with Johnson employing the hit and move technique. Lauzon was dropped by a hard straight left midway through the round as Johnson let his hands go landing some big uppercuts switching from the body to the head. Johnson again had Lauzon down in the closing seconds but the hometown hero survived the opening frame but was on the ropes.

The Boston fighter, Lauzon, worked hard to press Johnson against the cage in round two, securing an underhook, but Johnson showed his strength to work away from the position and continue the striking battle. Johnson looked to slow in the latter stages of the second round as Lauzon began to be more effective with his strikes but Johnson secured a double leg takedown in the closing seconds after preserving energy by having Lauzon in a clinch.

The advice to Lauzon before the final frame was to work the hardest five minutes of his life, but Johnson was able to find another gear, using his speed and poured the pressure on Lauzon landing uppercuts and body shots, cruising to victory.

The win for Johnson snapped a two fight losing streak and was his first win since October in 2012 while Lauzon suffered his second straight loss in his first Octagon outing of the year.

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