Welsh mixed martial arts fighter (born 1992)
Brett Johns (born 21 February 1992) is a Welsh professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the featherweight division of PFL . Prior to signing with PFL, Johns competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator MMA at bantamweight . A professional competitor since 2012, he has also formerly competed for Cage Warriors and Titan FC , and was Bantamweight Champion for both promotions.[ 3]
Early life
Johns was born and raised by a single mother in Pontarddulais .[ 5] He has an older sister and two younger brothers.[ 5] Brett started training judo in a club run by his to-be-stepfather at the age of four.[ 6] While avidly training judo, he started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu on his stepfather's advice to improve his ground game at the age of 16.[ 6] While training jiu-jitsu under Chris Rees, Johns eventually grew an interest towards mixed arts.[ 6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Johns made his mixed martial arts debut as an amateur in 2011 where he compiled an undefeated record of 4–0.[ 7] He turned professional in 2012 and competed on the regional circuit with stints in Cage Warriors Fighting Championship and Titan Fighting Championships where he was the Bantamweight Champion for each promotion.[citation needed ]
Johns signed with the UFC in 2016.[ 8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Johns made his promotional debut on 19 November 2016 against Kwan Ho Kwak at UFC Fight Night 99 .[ 9] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[ 10]
Johns was expected to face Ian Entwistle on 18 March 2017 at UFC Fight Night 107 .[ 11] Entwistle missed weight at the weigh-ins – coming in at 139lbs, 3lbs over the bantamweight limit of 136lbs. He forfeited 20% of his fight purse to his opponent. The following day, Entwistle's medical clearance was revoked following a trip the hospital and the bout was cancelled.[ 12]
Johns was expected to face Mitch Gagnon on 16 July 2017 at UFC Fight Night 113 .[ 13] However, Gagnon was removed from the card on 27 June and replaced by Albert Morales .[ 14] Johns won the bout by unanimous decision.[ 15]
Johns faced Joe Soto on 1 December 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale .[ 16] Johns won the bout by submission due to a calf slicer (the 2nd Calf Slicer in UFC history).[ 17] This win earned him Performance of the Night bonus.[ 18]
Johns faced Aljamain Sterling on 21 April 2018 at UFC Fight Night 128 .[ 19] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[ 20]
Johns faced Pedro Munhoz on 4 August 2018 at UFC 227 .[ 21] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[ 22]
Johns faced Tony Gravely on 25 January 2020 at UFC Fight Night 166 .[ 23] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round three.[ 24] This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.[ 25]
Johns faced Montel Jackson on 19 July 2020 at UFC Fight Night 172 .[ 26] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[ 27]
Bellator MMA
On 2 October 2020, Johns revealed he had signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA after testing free agency when his UFC contract expired.[ 28] Johns was expected to make his Bellator debut on 21 May 2021 at Bellator 259 against Matheus Mattos.[ 29] [ 30] However, Mattos pulled out from the bout after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by former Titan FC bantamweight champion Danny Sabatello .[ 31] Johns lost the bout via unanimous decision.[ 32]
Johns was scheduled to face Érik Pérez on 16 October 2021 at Bellator 268 .[ 33] However on 5 October it was announced that Perez was injured and the bout was scrapped.[ 34]
Johns faced Khurshed Kakhorov on 25 February 2022 at Bellator 275 .[ 35] He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the third round.[ 36]
Johns was scheduled to face James Gallagher on 23 September 2022 at Bellator 285 .[ 37] However in August, it was announced that Gallagher pulled out of the bout due to unknown reasons.[ 38] Jordan Winski was picked as a replacement for Gallagher.[ 39] Johns won the bout via unanimous decision.[ 40]
Johns was scheduled to face Marcirley Alves on 12 May 2023 at Bellator 296 .[ 41] However, the week of the event, Johns pulled out due to staph infection .[ 42]
Professional Fighters League
After completing his contract, Johns signed with the PFL and made his debut against David Tonatiuh Crol on 8 December 2023 at PFL Europe 4 .[ 43] He won the fight by TKO in the third round.[ 44]
Johns faced Timur Khizriev on 19 April 2024 at PFL 3 (2024) .[ 45] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[ 46]
Johns was scheduled to face Ádám Borics on 28 June 2024 at PFL 6 , but Borics pulled out and was replaced by Tyler Diamond.[ 47] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[ 48]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
25 matches
20 wins
5 losses
By knockout
4
0
By submission
6
0
By decision
10
5
Res.
Record
Opponent
Method
Event
Date
Round
Time
Location
Notes
Loss
20–5
Tyler Diamond
Decision (unanimous)
PFL 6 (2024)
28 June 2024
3
5:00
Sioux Falls, South Dakota , United States
Loss
20–4
Timur Khizriev
Decision (unanimous)
PFL 3 (2024)
19 April 2024
3
5:00
Chicago, Illinois , United States
Win
20–3
David Tonatiuh Crol
TKO (punches)
PFL Europe 4 (2023)
8 December 2023
3
3:09
Dublin , Ireland
Return to Featherweight.
Win
19–3
Jordan Winski
Decision (unanimous)
Bellator 285
23 September 2022
3
5:00
Dublin , Ireland
Win
18–3
Khurshed Kakhorov
TKO (punches)
Bellator 275
25 February 2022
3
3:00
Dublin , Ireland
Loss
17–3
Danny Sabatello
Decision (unanimous)
Bellator 259
21 May 2021
3
5:00
Uncasville, Connecticut , United States
Win
17–2
Montel Jackson
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2
19 July 2020
3
5:00
Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
Win
16–2
Tony Gravely
Submission (rear-naked choke)
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos
25 January 2020
3
2:53
Raleigh, North Carolina , United States
Fight of the Night
Loss
15–2
Pedro Munhoz
Decision (unanimous)
UFC 227
4 August 2018
3
5:00
Los Angeles, California , United States
Loss
15–1
Aljamain Sterling
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee
21 April 2018
3
5:00
Atlantic City, New Jersey , United States
Win
15–0
Joe Soto
Submission (calf slicer)
The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale
1 December 2017
1
0:30
Las Vegas, Nevada , United States
Performance of the Night
Win
14–0
Albert Morales
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio
16 July 2017
3
5:00
Glasgow , Scotland
Win
13–0
Kwak Kwan-ho
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2
19 November 2016
3
5:00
Belfast , Northern Ireland
Win
12–0
Anthony Gutierrez
Decision (split)
Titan FC 34
18 July 2015
5
5:00
Kansas City, Missouri , United States
Johns missed weight (136.8 lb) and was stripped of the Titan FC Bantamweight Championship . Only Gutierrez was eligible to win the title.
Win
11–0
Walel Watson
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Titan FC 33
20 March 2015
2
3:06
Mobile, Alabama , United States
Won the Titan FC Bantamweight Championship .
Win
10–0
James Brum
Decision (unanimous)
Cage Warriors FC 67
12 April 2014
5
5:00
Swansea , Wales
Johns missed weight (137 lb) and was stripped of the Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship . Only Brum was eligible to win the title.
Win
9–0
Jordan Desborough
Decision (split)
Cage Warriors 59
14 September 2013
5
5:00
Cardiff , Wales
Won the Cage Warriors Bantamweight Tournament and the vacant Cage Warriors Bantamweight Championship .
Win
8–0
David Haggstrom
Decision (unanimous)
3
5:00
Cage Warriors Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win
7–0
James MacCallister
TKO (punches)
Cage Warriors 54
4 May 2013
2
3:23
Cardiff , Wales
Bantamweight debut
Win
6–0
Joe Orrey
Submission (armbar)
Pain Pit Fight Night 6
3 February 2013
1
3:59
Newport , Wales
Won the PPFN Bantamweight (145 lb) Championship.
Win
5–0
Barrie Monty
TKO (punches)
Bad Blood Fight Night 2
24 November 2012
1
1:17
Llanelli , Wales
Win
4–0
Sam Gilbert
Decision (unanimous)
Cage Warriors 49
27 October 2012
3
5:00
Cardiff , Wales
Win
3–0
Kyle Prosser
Decision (unanimous)
Pain Pit Fight Night 4
1 September 2012
3
5:00
Newport , Wales
Featherweight debut
Win
2–0
Arunis Klimavicius
Submission (triangle choke)
Celtic Battle Fight Night
14 July 2012
1
2:31
Carmarthen , Wales
Win
1–0
Ben Wood
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Pain Pit Fight Night 3
30 June 2012
1
2:04
Newport , Wales
Lightweight debut
See also
References
^ "UFC's Brett Johns opens up on what it takes to be a fighter" . powerpunchmma.com . 6 March 2017.
^ "UFC Fight Island: Shore hopes Brett Johns will repeat son Jack's success" . BBC . 18 July 2020.
^ a b c "Brett Johns – Official UFC Profile" . UFC . Retrieved 21 July 2017 .
^ "Brett Johns on Instagram: "A dream come true, Absolutely chuffed to receive my BJJ black belt from Chris Rees and Ash Williams @cra_hq_swansea after 11 years with the…" " . Instagram . Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019 .
^ a b Tyler Mears (21 April 2018). "Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 128 Atlantic City: The little Welsh boy who grew up to become the talk of UFC" . Wales Online .
^ a b c Tom Rooney (18 February 2018). "Stripped of two titles and living in a gym, Brett Johns was done with MMA before getting UFC call" . mmajunkie.com.
^ Roberto Reid (8 April 2014). "Brett Johns Cage Warriors 67 interview: 'He might be training in California, I don't need to travel to these places" . mmaplus.co.uk .
^ Zane Simon (15 November 2016). "Welcome to the UFC: Kwan Ho Kwak" . bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016 .
^ Brent Brookhouse (1 November 2016). "UFC signs second Welsh fighter as Brett Johns faces Kwan Ho Kwak at UFC Fight Night 99" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016 .
^ Ben Fowlkes (19 November 2016). "UFC Fight Night 99 results: Brett Johns scores shutout decision win over Kwan Ho Kwak" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016 .
^ Staff (3 February 2017). "Ian Entwistle vs. Brett Johns joins London's UFC Fight Night 107 lineup" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 3 February 2017 .
^ John Morgan (18 March 2017). "Ian Entwistle ruled out of UFC Fight Night 107, bout with Brett Johns scrapped" . mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 18 March 2017 .
^ Danny Segura (8 May 2017). "Mitch Gagnon vs. Brett Johns added to UFC Fight Night 113 in Glasgow" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 8 May 2017 .
^ Jim Edwards (27 June 2017). "Brett Johns gets new opponent for UFC Glasgow" . champions.co. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017 .
^ "UFC Fight Night 113 results: Brett Johns sweeps short-notice opponent Albert Morales" . MMAjunkie . 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017 .
^ Dale Jordan (5 September 2017). "Joe Soto vs. Brett Johns added to the TUF 26 Finale in Las Vegas" . mmamad.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017 .
^ "TUF 26 Finale results: Brett Johns needs just 30 seconds to finish Joe Soto via calf slicer" . MMAjunkie . 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017 .
^ a b "Bonus Time! Johns, Meerschaert Lead TUF 26 Winners" . MMAmania.com . Retrieved 2 December 2017 .
^ Staff (8 February 2018). "Aljamain Sterling vs. Brett Johns set for UFC Fight Night 128 in Atlantic City" . mmajunkie.com . Retrieved 8 February 2018 .
^ Dave Doyle (21 April 2018). "UFC Atlantic City results: Aljamain Sterling decisions Brett Johns" . mmafighting.com . Retrieved 21 April 2018 .
^ "Brett Johns vs. Pedro Munhoz booked for UFC 227 in Los Angeles" . MMAjunkie . 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018 .
^ "UFC 227 results: Pedro Munhoz batters incredibly durable Brett Johns, settles for decision" . MMAjunkie . 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018 .
^ Farah Hannoun (20 November 2019). "Brett Johns set to return after long layoff, fight Tony Gravely at UFC Raleigh" . mmajunkie.com . Retrieved 20 November 2019 .
^ Shillan, Keith (25 January 2020). "UFC Raleigh Results: Brett Johns Earns Third-Round Submission in Grappling-Heavy Affair" . Cageside Press . Retrieved 26 January 2020 .
^ a b Youngs, Jose (25 January 2020). "UFC Raleigh bonuses: Brett Johns vs. Tony Gravely earns Fight of the Night" . MMAFighting.com . Retrieved 25 January 2020 .
^ Dave Doyle (18 June 2020). "UFC Fight Island: Welsh pair Brett Johns and John Phillips added to series" . bbc.com . Retrieved 18 June 2020 .
^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (18 July 2020). "UFC Fight Island 2 Results: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 18 July 2020 .
^ Ariel Helwani (2 October 2020). "Sources: Brett Johns agrees to multifight deal with Bellator" . ESPN . Retrieved 2 October 2020 .
^ Nolan King (24 March 2021). "Brett Johns set for Bellator debut, faces Matheus Mattos on May 21" . MMA Junkie . Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^ Williams, Dion (25 March 2021). "Brett Johns Set to Face Matheus Mattos in His Bellator Debut on May 21st" . overtimeheroics.net . Retrieved 16 April 2021 .
^ "With Matheus Mattos out, Brett Johns faces Titan FC champ Danny Sabatello at Bellator 259" . MMA Junkie . 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021 .
^ "Bellator 259: Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2 live results and highlights" . FanSided . 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021 .
^ "Brett Johns vs. Erik Perez in the works for Bellator 268" . MMA Junkie . 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021 .
^ Simpson, Lewis (6 October 2021). "Johns vs. Perez Scrapped From Bellator 268" . TarpsOffSports.com . Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021 .
^ "Brett Johns vs. Khurshed Kakhorov joins Bellator 275 lineup in Dublin" . MMA Junkie . 4 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022 .
^ "Johns celebrates first Bellator win" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 February 2022 .
^ Lee, Alexander K. (12 May 2022). "James Gallagher to fight Brett Johns at Bellator Dublin" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 12 May 2022 .
^ Samano, Simon (11 August 2022). "James Gallagher out of Bellator 285 fight vs. Brett Johns" . MMA Junkie . Retrieved 11 August 2022 .
^ "Bellator 285: Brett Johns to face Jordan Winski in Dublin" . BBC Sport . 22 August 2022.
^ Markey, Ross (23 September 2022). "Brett Johns Rides Out Comfortable Grappling Win Over Jordan Winski - Bellator 285 Highlights" . Retrieved 24 September 2022 .
^ "Brett Johns added to Bellator 296 card in Paris | MMA UK" . mmauk.net . 1 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023 .
^ "Johns withdraws from Da Silva fight" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 11 May 2023 .
^ "Welshman Johns added to PFL Dublin card" . BBC Sport . 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023 .
^ "2023 PFL Europe 4 video: UFC vet Brett Johns gets TKO from bottom position" . MMA Junkie . 8 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024 .
^ Cruz, Guilherme (11 March 2024). "PFL announces full line-ups for first 3 season events, 8 ex-Bellator champions debut" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 20 April 2024 .
^ Meshew, Jed (20 April 2024). "PFL 3 Results: Magomed Umalatov remains unbeaten, Brendan Loughnane gets back on track with quick win" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 20 April 2024 .
^ Sherdog.com. "PFL 6 Update: Logan Storley Gets New Opponent in Sioux Falls Co-Main Event" . Sherdog . Retrieved 5 August 2024 .
^ "Tyler Diamond takes decision in grappling chess match" . pflmma.com . Retrieved 5 August 2024 .
^ Thomas Gerbasi (4 January 2018). "The Top Submissions of 2017" . Ultimate Fighting Championship .
^ "The Best Submissions Of 2017 Are ..." MMAmania.com . Retrieved 25 December 2017 .
^ DNA, MMA (18 January 2018). "MMA DNA UFC Awards 2017 : De Uitslagen!!!" . Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
External links