The fight between American veteran Michael Johnson and Ottman Azaitar took place on Sunday, December 15 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. This duel, entered in the lightweight category (155 lbs / 70.3 kg), saw Johnson dominate his out-of-shape opponent before winning by technical knockout in the second round, a result which embodies marked differences in terms of technique, strategy and endurance between the two protagonists.
A tense introduction
From the first round, Michael Johnson showed his superiority in managing distance and exchanges. His fast jabs and low kicks, targeting Azaitar’s legs, gradually neutralized the movements of the Moroccan, who suffered further humiliation. Azaitar struggled to adapt to this methodical strategy. Johnson, with his experience of 42 MMA fights before this encounter, used his mobility and his 191 cm reach to dictate the pace of the encounter, preventing Azaitar from reacting.
The decisive fall in the second round
At the start of the second round, Azaitar already seemed blunted while Johnson displayed increasing control. After several exchanges, Johnson feinted a left hook before landing a precise right hook, hitting Azaitar in the chin and causing a brutal fall. There followed a ground-and-pound relentless, where Johnson, on the ground, chained strikes. Referee Keith Peterson had to intervene to end the fight after three minutes and twelve seconds.
Transitioning out of the ring soon?
This defeat definitively confirms the limits of Ottman Azaitar at 34 years old. This duel revealed gaps in its defense against strategically superior opponents. Azaitar also appeared to suffer from an endurance deficit, a crucial aspect at this level of competition. On the other hand, Michael Johnson, at 38 years old, demonstrated that his experience and technical rigor still made him a formidable competitor, thus consolidating his status in the UFC.
The key data of the fight
• Duration : 2 rounds, technical knockout at 3:12 of the second round.
• Referee: Keith Peterson.
• Height and weight of fighters: Azaitar (1,73 m, 156 lbs), Johnson (1,78 m, 155 lbs).
This fight rekindles the debate on the sporting future of Ottman Azaitar, who could consider retiring to preserve his physical integrity and end his career on a mixed note.
Ottman Azaitar seems to have reached his limits in a merciless world circuit. Defeated by Michael Johnson, he once again exposed technical and strategic shortcomings incompatible with the elite level required in his category. This setback, far from being isolated, is part of a series of poor performances and fuels legitimate questions about his ability to continue a career already marked by repeated failures.
Outside of the cage, the escapades of Azaitar (and his siblings) have often made headlines, further tarnishing his reputation. Between controversial behavior and hazardous management of his career, the thirty-year-old seems to have moved away from the demands of rigor which characterize the greatest athletes. His retirement, now inevitable, will put an end to a sporting trajectory which will never have reached its potential.
