UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson pulled the biggest upset of the night on UFC 318.
Although he was an important underdog who takes on his fight with a talented favorite of fans, Michael Johnson started a new chapter of his career in a wild firefight on UFC 318.
Johnson, 39, entered UFC 318 from back-to-back victories and approached a potential return to the lightweight top 15. From an opponent 13 years younger than he, Johnson showed experience and speed against rising star Daniel Zellhuber.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Michael Johnson scores enormous upset victory on Dustin Poirier's pension card
Johnson opened the fight by putting Zellhuber on his rear foot and surpassing the young star on the feet. Johnson showed a clear speed benefit compared to the 6'1 ″ Zellhuber, who chose to follow a kick-heavy approach to prevent Johnson's progress.
In round 2 Johnson Zellhuber dropped with a huge right hook on the jaw that almost ended his rival. But Zellhuber was able to climb out of trouble and limit the damage, so that it was achieved until the end of the round in what many believed that it was a meticulous fight.
Left hand sits down 😮way
[ #UFC318 | @Menace155 ] pic.twitter.com/I164Sgrmm
– UFC (@UFC) July 20, 2025
In round 3, Johnson closed the deal with pace and pressure and checked Zellhuber on the canvas after scoring a slick Takedown. After three action rounds, Johnson walked away with a stunning unanimous decision victory to give Zellhuber his second consecutive UFC defeat.
Johnson's victory only came a few hours before his one-off rival, Dustin Poirier, made his last walk to the Octagon in the UFC 318 headliner. In September 2016, Johnson broke Poirier in a brutal way to earn a confrontation with the then continent Khabib Nurmagomedov.
As far as Zellhuber is concerned, the loss for Johnson drops the talented Mexican fight to 3-3 in his UFC light weight. Zellhuber and Esteban Riabovics defended fans with a 'Fight of the Year' candidate at UFC 306.
Johnson earned a pay-per-view showcase on UFC 318 after a one-punch Ko in his most recent fight in UFC Tampa in December. He beat Ottman Azaitar to go back in the lightweight mix after a recent term in the lightweight division.
UFC 318 contained a controversial decision, wild knockouts and smooth subs
The UFC 318 Undercard did not disappoint on Saturday in the long -awaited return of the promotion to New Orleans.
The promotion started with a late knockout of the hero of the birthplace, Carli Judice, in the first fight of the UFC 318 -Prelims. Ateba Gautier and Brunno Ferreira earned wild finishes to continue their climbs in the middleweight division.
A welterweight matchup between Nikolay Veretnikov and Francisco Prado was marred by a controversial result in the eyes of many UFC fans. Verrikov was given the split decision for his first promotional victory, despite many believing that Prado deserved the victory.
UFC 318 was led by a BMF title Matchup between Max Holloway and Johnson's former rival, Poirier.