Ramazan Temirov

Charles Johnson vs. Ramazonbek Temirov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Temirov (-115), Johnson (-105)

Round 1
A bit leaner than originally intended, the UFC rolls into the Apex station with an even 10 fights on the billing. The event is light on ranked relevance and meaningful matchups from a championship perspective, but each bout means the world to the participants so they cannot be dismissed before they happen. The action starts off in the flyweight division, with a solid fight that has no place in the curtain jerker spot. With four straight wins in his pocket, rising talent Johnson (17-6, 6-4 UFC) wants to go five in a row and stamp himself as a contender at 125 pounds. Standing in his way will be streaking Uzbekistan native Temirov (18-3, 1-0 UFC), who may have only earned one win in the UFC thus far but enters the bout the victor in his last 10 outings. Someone’s win streak is about to come to a screeching halt, and referee Jason Herzog will be there every step of the way. The fighters touch gloves, and the combat begins. Johnson assumes the center of the cage and works his way forward, switching stances to angle his way in. When Temirov does not back off much, Johnson backpedals. This gives Temirov confidence to wing an overhand right and a spinning back kick, and the former catches “InnerG” on the jaw. Johnson shakes it off and bounces off the fencing, and Temirov bears down on him with a looping left. Johnson responds with a knee up the middle, and he follows with a front kick on the chin. Temirov clips him with a big right hand and hurts him. Johnson hits his back and rolls forward to pursue a desperate takedown, stripping up Temirov’s balance but not grounding him for long. Both men climb back up, and Temirov is firmly in the driver’s seat throwing bombs. Johnson takes them well enough but is taking damage, and he gets Temirov to back away momentarily thanks to a groin shot. Herzog checks on Temirov’s condition, who waves him away and wants to keep swinging. Johnson strafes left and right, but Temirov is on him with big punches and flashy strikes. Johnson remains composed as he keeps up his guard, only to walk directly into a check left hook. Johnson’s front kick forces Temirov to back off, and he throws a body kick that gets caught. With Johnson’s leg under his armpit, the Uzbekistani fighter slings a right hand that knocks Johnson off his feet. Johnson jumps back up and rushes forward, punching his way forward until Temirov fires off a spinning back fist. Johnson surges forward and eats another spinning back fist, but the more damaging blow is a left to the liver from “Temurlan.” The concussive blows from Temirov keep dropping Johnson down to a knee, which may or may not be registered as a knockdown but still matters from a damage standpoint. Johnson stands his ground and fires back, and the two trade blows until the bell sounds.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Temirov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Temirov
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Temirov

Round 2
The fighters tap gloves to get going, and Johnson forces the issue with pressure and parries a right hook. Temirov darts in with a looping left and then a right, and Johnson’s head movement keeps him safe from harm until he presses in to tie Temirov up and grab hold of a single-leg takedown. Johnson lowers himself to the mat to try for greater leverage, but he cannot ground the man from Uzbekistan and backs off. Temirov goes wide with a haymaker of a right hand, and Johnson prods out with a jab and a low kick. Johnson presents a knee when Temirov loads up, but Temirov is still able to connect with at least one big strike. The huge punches from Temirov keep coming, and Johnson’s evasiveness saves him from the worst of it. Johnson slips in an uppercut when sliding away, and he has another kick caught that results in him getting knocked off his feet. Johnson zips back up to his feet unconcerned, and he takes a clean right hand to the ribcage. Temirov reaches out with a left and rips the body with a kick, and he intercepts the advancing “InnerG” with power punches. Johnson chases after his foe, who is on his bike dashing from left to right. Johnson lunges in with a huge swing, and the quicker Temirov sticks him and moves effectively. Johnson probes with a left hand, but he gets popped with a left on the way out. Temirov flashes a jab that wobbles Johnson’s knees momentarily, and he uses a few more to redden the nose of his opponent. Johnson gets in the pocket and starts to trade, but a left hand from Temirov slams into his face and forces him to stop and blink it out. Johnson pushes forward to get hold of his opponent and level change, but he settles for an elbow up top to break. Johnson uses awkward angles to get in and land a few shots, and Temirov loads up with a bomb of a right hand that smacks Johnson in the beak a slight bit after the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Temirov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Temirov

Round 3
There is a final glove touch, and Johnson springs behind it to fire off a pair of punches up top. Temirov catches the subsequent body kick, and this time Johnson does not get decked with the overhand right. Johnson takes his leg back, dodges a spinning wheel kick and crashes the pocket to trade. Johnson backs his man up against the fence and works the body with a right hand and a kick, and Temirov retreats along the outer edge of the cage. Both men land at the same time, and Johnson takes it a little harder and is therefore slower to give one back. Temirov punches his way into a tackling takedown, putting Johnson on his seat for a second. Johnson jumps back up and breaks out of the tie-up, and he starts starting punches together while Temirov might be slowing just a hair. Johnson gives chase, unafraid of what comes back his way, and he tees off on a stalling Temirov with a flurry of fists. Johnson is cognizant of the power swings that occasionally come back, and he pays attention and counters while splitting the guard with uppercuts when he can find them. Johnson takes a right hand and wipes his face, and he goes back to rushing after his foe. Johnson blasts the lead leg twice, and Temirov’s balance appears shaken. Just when Johnson is about to attack, Temirov wings a massive right hand that stuns his opponent. Johnson shakes out the cobwebs and continues pressing the action, landing a few long strikes to work his way in. Johnson pounds the body and ends the combo with an uppercut, and Temirov escapes. Johnson probes out with a jab, and Temirov does the same and loops two big hooks after it. Johnson swings with bad intentions, opening himself up to a takedown attempt from the fighter from Uzbekistan. Johnson shuts it down and pushes Temirov against the wall, and he complains to Herzog that Temirov is grabbing the inside of his gloves. Herzog slaps Temirov’s hand, and Johnson pursues a single and bails on it to score a right on the break. Temirov stands firm and plants a one-two on the jaw, and he follows with a spin kick that goes wide. Johnson slips and responds with a right hand, and Temirov grips him tightly and pushes him against the wall. When Johnson frees himself from the clinch, the horn sounds. It might all come down to how the second round is scored.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Temirov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Temirov)

The Official Result
Ramazonbek Temirov def. Charles Johnson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)