ABU DHABI – Brett Johns beat Montel Jackson with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 30 in Abu Dhabi.
Take a look inside the fight with Johns, who won for the second straight time to get back on track after the first two losses of his pro career.
Result: Brett Johns def. Montel Jackson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Johns (17-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Jackson (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Key stat: Johns landed eight takedowns in the fight.
Johns on the fight’s key moment
“We expected Montel to have a very quick 1-2. There is quick, and there was that. That was super fast. That’s what caught me off guard, really. Once I got caught with it once, I was weary about it and I managed to time it and get the shots off to get to the fence. (It was) probably not the most attractive fight, (but) at this level and this big stage, I wanted a win, and that’s what I got.”
Johns on his performance
“Overall, I’m happy I grinded it out. That’s my style, really. I have that fighting style in me where I grind things out. I am very happy overall to get the win. It’s a new chapter in my career. Did I feel like I looked good? Not very. But I’ll take it. He was a good striker. I’m very thankful.”
Johns on what he wants next
“I’m happy to fight anybody in this weight division. It is the ‘anyone can get it’ tour. If you ask me a name, I’d like to fight a legend – a legend of the game. I’d like to fight someone like Urijah Faber, a guy who has been there and done it and fought the best guys. Was that the performance to really shout and scream about it? Probably not. But if Urijah is watching, that’s a fight I dream to have. I think about getting my shorts framed after the fight and imagine fighting Urijah Faber and them shorts. That would be a dream come true.”
To hear more from Johns, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
