JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thiago Moises beat Michael Johnson with a second-round submission Wednesday to open up the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Take a look inside the fight with Moises, who got his first submission win since joining the UFC.
Result: Thiago Moises def. Michael Johnson via submission (heel hook) – Round 2, 0:25
Updated records: Moises (13-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Johnson (19-16 MMA, 11-12 UFC)
Key stat: Johnson outstruck Moises 28-1 in the first round, but quickly fell victim to Moises’ grappling in the second.
Moises on the fight’s key moment
“We drilled that move a lot. I know that he has good single-leg defense, so I was drilling that a lot. I knew that I had it when I had my leg over his. I saw from his past fights that he didn’t know how to defend that, so I guess he hasn’t learned.”
Moises on his all-around game
“I’m well rounded. I can fight anywhere. Against a guy like Michael Johnson, I can grapple him, I can submit him. I can finish guys with strikes. I’m a really smart fighter. I can fight everywhere, so I can beat anyone. I have a great team. I train at American Top Team, one of the best in the world – best coaches in the world – so I was pretty confident.”
Moises on what he wants next
“I think mine and Anthony Pettis’ games match up really well for me. I think I’m stronger than him. I know my grappling is better than his and I have all the tools to beat him.”
To hear more from Moises, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
