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Michael Johnson Vows to Continue After UFC 326 KO, Targets Dober and Gaethje Rematches

In his first comments since the bout, the 39-year-old called the knockout legitimate and rejected retirement.

Overview

  • Johnson posted an Instagram video after his second-round loss to Drew Dober at UFC 326, saying he is "not f—king leaving" the sport.
  • He said he felt ashamed and depressed in the aftermath, credited Dober for a clean finish, and blamed a small mistake for the outcome.
  • Judges had Johnson winning Round 1 on all three scorecards before he was stopped in Round 2.
  • The defeat ended a three-fight winning streak and left Johnson at 24-20 overall with 16 UFC losses, the second-most in promotional history.
  • The matchup drew attention for dramatic pre-fight betting line movement that led some sportsbooks to pull markets, which UFC CEO Dana White later dismissed as having "zero legitimacy."