It turns out that John Makdessi wasn't option A to fill in against Donald Cerrone at UFC 187. The first fighter on the UFC's list (or at least higher up somewhere) was apparently Michael Johnson, as he recently revealed to MMAJunkie.
The booking would have made sense, with Johnson having been set to face Benson Henderson in July at the TUF 21 Finale. Henderson fell out of that fight, so Johnson was not just a top 5 lightweight, but he was (and still is) one looking for a new bout. Just not on short notice, it seems.
Here's what he had to say when asked about the Cerrone fight by MMAJunkieRadio:
"I was the first one they called, but unfortunately, timing's everything, and I couldn't take it. I was dealing with a little shoulder problem I had to get worked out on, and three weeks of me not really training isn't enough time to get ready for a fight like ‘Cowboy.'"
That seems pretty reasonable, but apparently, Johnson wasn't so sure he made the right move come fight night:
"Watching him fight, I was like, ‘Shit. Maybe I should have just signed it and went in and fought.' It is what is it. The title's not going anywhere, and I'll be there pretty soon."
The booking would have made sense, with Johnson having been set to face Benson Henderson in July at the TUF 21 Finale. Henderson fell out of that fight, so Johnson was not just a top 5 lightweight, but he was (and still is) one looking for a new bout. Just not on short notice, it seems.
Here's what he had to say when asked about the Cerrone fight by MMAJunkieRadio:
"I was the first one they called, but unfortunately, timing's everything, and I couldn't take it. I was dealing with a little shoulder problem I had to get worked out on, and three weeks of me not really training isn't enough time to get ready for a fight like ‘Cowboy.'"
That seems pretty reasonable, but apparently, Johnson wasn't so sure he made the right move come fight night:
"Watching him fight, I was like, ‘Shit. Maybe I should have just signed it and went in and fought.' It is what is it. The title's not going anywhere, and I'll be there pretty soon."
