Just seven fights into his pro career, Donte Johnson isn’t afraid to look into the future.
And what he sees, just a few fights from now, is essentially the same: He’s ready. Bring it on. That’s what he’s been doing anyway, so he figures by the time he’s 4-0, 5-0 in the UFC and turning heads at middleweight, he’ll handle business the way he does currently.
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And that holds, even if he didn’t necessarily expect to be staring down the barrel of his second UFC fight this soon.
“I’m a go-getter. I set expectations, and then God always exceeds them. I didn’t think I was going to be in the UFC this soon, but I am, and it’s God-willing,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio.
Johnson (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) got into the UFC with a first-round knockout on DWCS this past August – his sixth straight first-round KO to open his career. In his UFC debut against late replacement Sedriques Dumas, he had to leave the first round for the first time as a pro, but also left with a second-round submission and a $50,000 bonus.
In March, he’ll take on Dusko Todorovic (13-6 MMA, 4-6 UFC), his most accomplished opponent yet. It’ll be at his biggest event yet, to boot: UFC 326 (Paramount+), which is set for March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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The 31-year-old Todorovic this past fall snapped a three-fight skid with a submission of Jose Medina. Todorovic has been in the cage with some of the UFC’s standout middleweights in the second tier of contention, and he’s been in the promotion for more than six years. That level of experience and comfortability is what Johnson seems to be hoping for just a few fights down the road.
“At 10-0, I’ll be ready for whatever. I want to be the best, so obviously I know I’ve got to fight the best,” he said. “I’m not shy by any means, and I’m not going to run from nobody by any means, either. So whatever matchup they throw my way, I’m going to sign on the dotted line.
“… My vision has opened up and things have opened up. It’s a relief. It’s not pressure. I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
Check out Johnson’s full interview above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Donte Johnson seeing vision with no cracks along his UFC wall
