Michael Johnson Knocks Out Ottman Azaitar at UFC Tampa
Michael Johnson defeated Ottman Azaitar by second-round knockout at UFC Tampa on December 14, 2024. The lightweight contest ended at 2:03 of round two when Johnson landed a decisive right hook, according to the official event results.
A finish in Johnson’s thirtieth UFC appearance
The bout took place at Amalie Arena and closed the preliminary portion of the promotion’s final event of 2024. The UFC’s prelim recap identified it as Johnson’s thirtieth appearance with the organization, making the finish a notable milestone in his long Octagon career.
The embedded video accompanies Johnson’s post-fight coverage. His official interview archive provides a direct record of his reaction after the win.
Experience against leading lightweights
Johnson’s career already included victories over several prominent opponents. He defeated Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision in May 2012 and Edson Barboza by unanimous decision in February 2015. In September 2016, he knocked out Dustin Poirier at 1:35 of the opening round. Those results are recorded in his official UFC fighter history.
The Azaitar result added another knockout to that established body of work. It also showed the distinction between experience and the outcome of a particular contest: Johnson’s past victories supplied context, but the Tampa matchup was resolved by the right hook he landed in round two. The confirmed finish remains the central sporting result of this appearance.
