UFC 222 results: Jordan Johnson uses clinch game to take split from Adam Milstead

In his first fight at light heavyweight, and after a lengthy injury layoff, Adam Milstead couldn’t do much to stop Jordan Johnson’s clinch game, and it led to a split-decision loss.

Fighting nearly 30 pounds lighter than his most recent bout, Milstead (8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) got a bizarre 30-27 score from one judge. But Johnson (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) got a pair of 29-28s to take a split-call win in the curtain jerker.

The light heavyweight bout opened up the preliminary card of today’s UFC 222 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional prelims on FS1 and a main card on pay-per-view.

Both fighters traded leg kicks early, then traded leather with winging hooks. Milstead started to get the better of the striking game with well-timed counter punches. Johnson shot for a takedown a couple minutes in, but had it stuffed. He went back to the well not long after and pressed Milstead to the cage. Milstead broke back out with about a minute left thanks to a nice left elbow, but Johnson brought on more clinch work the rest of the round.

Johnson landed a body punch 45 seconds into the second, then tied Milstead up on the fence looking for a takedown. But once again, Milstead stayed upright. Midway through, Milstead landed a right hand behind Johnson’s ear, but couldn’t get get separation. A few moments later, referee Mark Smith took care of that for him by splitting the two apart for a perceived lack of action. Johnson finally got a takedown after that, but Milstead was back to his feet not long after. With 30 seconds left, Smith again put them back in the middle – though once again, Johnson seemed to be working in the clinch, just not in a very fan-friendly way.

Milstead tagged Johnson early in the third, and it forced Johnson to try for another takedown. Milstead avoided it and kept the fight standing, then landed another right. Johnson fired off a few counter lefts and hit his jab, as well. With about 90 seconds left, Johnson landed his second takedown of the fight, and Milstead looked like his energy was waning. He also was bleeding quite a bit from what apparently was an accidental headbutt. Milstead got up with a minute left and landed some big punches with 30 seconds left while Johnson tried for another takedown. Milstead landed some heavy hands right before the horn, but weren’t enough to turn things for him late.

Johnson stayed unbeaten with a perfect 9-0 start to his pro career, including his first three in the UFC. Milstead lost for the first time since his pro debut nearly seven years ago.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 222 results include:

• Jordan Johnson def. Adam Milstead via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC 222, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Las Vegas.)