Featured Fighter Profile: Michael "The Savage Lion" Johnson

Name: Michael Johnson

City/State Born: Meriden, CT
Age: 23
Height: 5'10"
Fight Weight: 135lbs
School: Lions Den, CT
Record:MMA/ and any other competitive wrestling/martial arts/or grappling I.E.: Naga

 Technically I'm 1-3, but I got robbed one fight n beat the shit out a kid for 2 n half rounds n lost to decision even the guys running the show said I won.  So I say I'm 2-2 n I'm stickin to my story, lol. 

1. Do you have a background in martial arts, boxing , wrestling etc?
     I did Karate growing up. Was taken out by my mom because all I cared about was Karate. Couldn't even take a normal picture. I would do Karate poses so I knew I was destined to be in martial arts. So as I got older I jumped into another Karate program and realized I'm not getting enough contact in and my long time best friend and now pro fighter Chris Foster was joining the community boxing program so my mom said I can join as well since his mom agreed. Trained for 2 summers and never competed and Chris n I kept contact, but on n off for a couple years. I call him up all of a sudden I find out he's 1-0 pro mma fighter I said shit if u can do it so can I and now I'm here.  I also have a backround in Tung Su Do, Judo, Boxing, Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu.

2. What's your nickname, how did you get it?
     My nickname is " THE SAVAGE LION".  I originally started to train with Team Savage and switched to The Lions Den. and I happened to make a gamer tag for Xbox Live THE SAVAGE LION and Randy Rowe said I fight like a savage fighter and have the heart of a lion so he gave me the nickname.

 
3. What are your ultimate goals in the sport?
      My goal is to make it in this sport to a big name show as a pro fighter and be remembered as a go "HAM" (hard as a mother fucker) fighter and a good father when I die.

 
4. What do you think about your next opponent?
     I dont know much about my next opponent, Hassan Mamhood, other then that he is a wrestler n has been choked out by a guillotine in 25 seconds after shooting for a takedown in first round n his only win is by decision so I'm not sleeping on him, but I sure as hell don't see him beating me.

5.  How do you see the fight going/being finished?
      I see this fight going like all my other fights, once I punch him he's going to realize he doesn't want to stand with me n try to take me down.. So I plan on using my skills that Danilo Cherman and Randy Rowe gave me and ground n pound the shit out of him until the ref pulls me off. I plan on finishing the fight, but let's see if it will go all three rounds.

6.  What weight do you walk at/how much do you cut to fight?
     I walk around at 165 and I'm cutting to 135 for the first time.  So this should be interesting.  I been doing the Dolce Diet and it worked so far.

7.  What's your favorite part about fighting?
     My favorite part is fighting in front of a big crowd. There is no bigger rush for me to hear the oohhhss and ahhhhhs just being in the audience give me a rush, but when I'm fighting I don't hear anything just my coaches voices and my opponent's heart beat.

 
8.  What's the worst part about fighting?
      My least favorite part about fighting is getting gassed out of breath.  My first fight I had my opponent on his last limp n I gassed n I got subbed so I promised to myself I would never go into another fight not conditioned again.

 
9.  Anyone locally or in the big's that you really would love to fight, and why?
      Locally I'd like to fight Kenny Foster from Bomb Squad.  He beat my best friend so I would love to knock him out when i have enough pro fights under my belt.  In the bigs I would have to wait to call that until I get there.  One step at a time.

 
10.  What do you feel is your best weapon in your fights?
      I would say my standing game is my best weapon by far.  Nobody wants to stand with me that I have fought so far.

11.  What is your favorite foods that you miss while cutting weight??
     I miss pizza and that will be one of the first thing I order after weigh-ins.  Sometimes I would swear I'm a Ninja Turtle... lol, but I miss all the fatty Italian and Spanish foods.

 
12.  What is your most memorable moment to date in MMA??
      My most memorable day I ever had was when I met Jon "Bones" Jones before a WFC fight that Chris Foster was also on card and was hanging with him outside some hotel chatting with him about fighting and him telling me never to quit if this is what I want to do I have to stick with it.  Next thing I knew 1 year or so later I see him on UFC I'm like wait a minute and Chris was like yeah you remember him.. I knew from that day anything can happen and I will never quit!!

 
13.  How else do you spend your time when you are not training??
     When I'm not training I'm working or with my daughter, Kiara, she is 6 months and I'm so happy to have her in my life.  If I have off time Xbox 360 it is.

14.  What do you do for a living besides fighting??

     I work security and am a licensed barber. That's how I make my green.

So, before I wrap up this Featured Fighter I'd like to thank Mike for making the effort and taking the time to educate us about his passion for MMA.  Mike and I have been aquaintaces for the better part of two years and through that time I have come to have a deep respect for the man.  Unfortunately one of the toughest aspects in a fighter's life can be his/her obligations outside the cage and that can be for many reasons.  A true warrior is one who balances these obligations and still has the determination and drive to accomplish goals.  Michael has been a man with many labels he "must" wear, but on fight day he'll only have one...

 "The Savage Lion"

Mike wished to thank a few people who've given him the drive and fuel he's needed to meet all his obligations head on.  Here they are.

     Shout outs to Valentine Karate and pro mma fighter Jason Bennett because those are my roots.  Shout outs to my present coach Danilo Cherman for giving me your time.  Shout outs to my coach from back in the day Randall DeWitt Rowe, love u pops.  Shout outs to my mother even tho she hates that I fight she still supports me. Shout outs to my baby mother, Pam. Just because I have a child doesn't mean I have to give up my dream of fighting and you leaving me drives me even deeper into this sport. Shout outs to Miguel Santos for helping me keep my head on straight n keeping my ass training everyday when I hit the rough patch and thank you to my cousin's Alec Foxx for your support and thank you to the bamf Marine, Adam Foxx, who is in Afghanistan on the frontline.  This fight is for both of you my brothers from another mother.  I love you guys... 

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