UFC
Michael Johnson says UFC offered him Donald Cerrone bout at UFC 187, but lingering injury kept him from accepting
May 28, 2015 - 9:55:56 PM Michael Johnson says UFC offered him Donald Cerrone bout at UFC 187, but lingering injury kept him from accepting

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

When Khabib Nurmagomedov pulled out of UFC 187, the UFC needed to find a replacement to face Donald Cerrone. They settled on John Makdessi, but the Canadian wasn't the first or only option for that spot.

In an interview with MMAJunkie.com, Michael Johnson says he was contacted by the UFC about that bout, but wasn't able to take it because of a lingering shoulder issue. That's something he's now looking back on with regret.

"I was the first one they called, but unfortunately, timing's everything, and I couldn't take it," he said (transcribed by BloodyElbow.com). "I was dealing with a little shoulder problem I had to get worked out on, and three weeks of me not really training isn't enough time to get ready for a fight like 'Cowboy.'

"Watching him fight, I was like, 'Shit. Maybe I should have just signed it and went in and fought.' It is what is it. The title's not going anywhere, and I'll be there pretty soon."

Penick's Analysis: Johnson's in limbo a bit in a division with a ton of talent but a lack of top contenders available right now. He's looking for a step up in competition, but a lot of those names are either booked, injured, or penciled in for future matchups. Had he been able to take the Cerrone booking, that might have been a different fight entirely from the Makdessi bout. He wasn't able to do that, so now it means continuing to wait for his next booking.