UFC Competent Charles Johnson was not too excited when he received the call to fight in China.
UFC Shanghai is going this weekend with a 12-fighter card with a head due to light heavyweight knockout artists Johnny Walker and Mingyang Zhang.
The Co-Main event is a five-round fight with featherweight between Brian Ortega and former Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
A fight on the Undercard that many fans are enthusiastic about is a flying weight between #15-ranged UFC Flying weight Charles Johnson and the unbeaten Lone'er Kavanagh.
Johnson went in the Octagon with 4-0 last year and beat Joshua from 13 months ago #1 participant. One of the most active hunters on the Roster, 'Innerg “seems to bounce back from a decision loss to Ramazan Temirov in March.
Bloody Elbow got the thoughts of Johnson about combating a new top, non -animated prospect, especially as far from home for the resident of St. Louis.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Charles Johnson: 'I am brought in for someone else'
Johnson's opponent Kavanagh is praised as a 'problem' by UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria prior to his upcoming fight.
Johnson seems to know how good the unbeaten 26-year-old is.
“I think he is special,” Johnson said about Kavanagh in an interview with Bloody Elbow.
“I think he was built for the long term. He is surrounded by a great coaching staff and a great environment, and they put him in a position that I have the feeling that I should have stopped after winning four fights. They give him a man who can put him in the rankings.
“In short, they take the test for all prospects, which in my opinion is because I do more than the boys in the ranking,” Johnson explained.
“I fight with harder fights, I fight more often, and I win two years in the past year.”
Regarding fighting in China, Johnson is not a fan.
“I don't like to have to travel to China and pay those taxes,” said Johnson.
“I don't think anyone would like that. I don't like it as if I have to go and I am brought in for someone else, such as, I have to go to China for him and because his mother is from China and he is part of Chinese and he likes fighting in China. So you take me to China …
“But it's cool. At the end of the day I am paid. I do my work, I do what I like to do and I can take care of my family. So that's what I have to concentrate on.
“I just wish – I pray that I am able to go here and do what I have to do, that after this fight I can get things on my conditions …”
Charles Johnson hopes for 'great opportunities' after the elimination of Joshua from a year ago
Johnson thinks he can be a victory, away from fighting former champion Brandon Moreno or someone from that caliber.
Should Johnson defend his ranking against the 9-0 Kavanagh, the flying weight has won five of its last six fights, with one of those victories on the will of #1 competition Joshua van.
'[This win could] Put things in position where, luckily, the man I have eliminated, the number one is contender, “Johnson said about.
“Hopefully that places me in a position where I get a great chance. I just go on this as from, and what I can take from Joshua, of these guys who have these opportunities, is that you just have to go there and do something special, man …
“Go outside, put on a show, put some people in your hands and put the ball in your court,” said Johnson.