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Micheal
Johnson - Interview by SFUKED
Michael
Johnson (facing camera) - pro debut, photo by
Levo
Originally
posted at SFUK.net on the 14 January 2001.
At
SFUK recently we've been doing a series of interviews
with the new talents to emerge onto the British scene
in 2000. Just the other day I had the honour of hooking
up with the youngest of the London Shootfighters, Michael
Johnson. Michael's gone from two great showings in the
amateur pancrase to making his pro debut in November with
a thrilling bout against Christophe Durant in the pro
Pancrase. We sat down and had a brief chat after Michael
had spent all day drilling his stand up down at Peacock's
gym.
Michael
Johnson Interview
SFUKED: Ok Michael, we'll start at the beginning. How
long have you been training at London Shootfighters?
Michael
Johnson: I've been at London Shootfighters for around
10 months
SFUKED:Had you trained at all before that?
Michael
Johnson: Yeah, I started when I was seven as a matter
of fact.
SFUKED:Yeah?
Michael Johnson: Yeah, I started some karate, semi contact
stuff but I didn't find it effective so I went along to
the Academy
SFUKED:
What, Bob Breen's place?
Michael
Johnson: Yeah Bob Breen's place and I met this guy called
Tony T, who fought in the Pancrase recently, and he introduced
me to Fred Rado. So I was training with Fred in the Pancrase
and stuff and I met this guy who went to London Shoot.
I went up there to train and that was in, like March 2000
and since then I've been with London Shoot.
SFUKED:
So your first competition was the amateur Pancrase back
in April?
Michael Johnson: Yeah, that one. I went into that a little
unprepared coz I was with London Shoot for a bout a month
before that and I'd only had about four training sessions
beforehand.
SFUKED:Right
but you still did really well. I mean you came, like,
second?
Michael
Johnson: No, I think I was third or something. I lost
to Andrew Liu and, er, Dave McLoughlin as well.
SFUKED:
But the second amateur pancrase you won...
Michael
Johnson: Yeah I was pretty happy with that.
SFUKED:
Uh huh, you were impressive that day. You spent like,
nearly a whole minute on the mat altogether...
Michael
Johnson: lol, I was pretty happy with that, know what
I mean? Fred Rado was pleased with that, you know. I trained
hard for that. I had to lose weight, as always, on that
day but it was cool though. I enjoyed it.
SFUKED:
So you go down to under 71kg?
Michael
Johnson: Yeah I normally try and make it around, well
my walking weight is around about 72.5 and I like to lose
a little weight before I fight. I go in around 70-71.
SFUKED:
And if we move on to your first pro fight at the Pancrase..
Michael
Johnson: Oh yeah, that's a story isn't it? *smiles* No,
er, I mean, yeah it was a good fight...
SFUKED: I enjoyed it. It was great to watch.
Michael Johnson:lol, I haven't seen the tape but I heard
it was a good fight. I had to lose, well put it this way,
I was on the treadmill and the bike for like an hour and
a half before the fight. They had to put my fight back
a couple of fights so I could get re-hydrated.
SFUKED: You had to cut a lot of weight?
Michael
Johnson: Yeah, for some reason Fred's scales said I was
75 kilos, which is like....*shrugs*. My scales at home
said I was 71 and coz like the fight was agreed for 70
kg and the other fighter was 72. Yeah, I mean I had to
lose the weight and stuff but it was still a good fight
you know. That guy was a tough guy, I enjoyed it though.
It was good.
SFUKED:
Alexis said recently had he known the guy was a lot more
experienced than you, you might not have fought him
Michael
Johnson: Yeah, I mean we didn't know but we're not making
excuses. I got beaten fairly, yeah I got beat but I don't
mind, it doesn't affect me.
SFUKED:
Ok, moving on to the future. Have you got any fights booked?
Is there anyone you're looking to fight?
Michael
Johnson: Well, I mean, not really. I don't mind who comes
along next. As long as I train hard for it and everything.
I've got the best guys around to spar with and train me
so I'm pretty confident. We'll see what happens. Maybe
MB2, maybe but I'm not so sure, we'll see how it goes.
SFUKED:
And are you still going to do the amateur competitions?
Michael
Johnson: I'm probably going to do some amateur grappling
comps but we'll see how that comes along coz I really
like vale tudo and stuff and I really want to get into
that. Definitely.
SFUKED:
Ok Mike, is there anything you'd like to add before we
stop the tape?
Michael
Johnson: No not really, just that I train with a lot of
great guys and they look after me. *smiles*
SFUKED:
Ok, thanks very much Mike.
Michael Johnson: That's cool. Thanks.
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