UFC on Fox: Michael Johnson emerges

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The crowd inside the Izod Center booed somewhat regularly at the action, or lack there of, between lightweights Michael Johnson and Tony Ferguson at UFC on Fox 3 on Saturday.

For the knockout-thirsty crowd that populates an arena on fight night, they had reason to boo. But for those appreciate the evolution of a fighter into a more precise striker, then let's talk about Johnson.

A runner-up in Season 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter," Johnson regularly landed whiplash left hooks to Ferguson's face. To the credit of Ferguson, the Season 13 "TUF" champion, he absorbed every one of them (although he was knocked down in the first round on a left hook).

But it was Johnson's work on his feet that landed him the unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 30-27.

Johnson (12-6), who trains with the Blackzilians in Boca Raton, Fla., landed one particularly impressive left upperhook (not a typo, by the way) in the second round that sent Ferguson's face into squish mode for a second.

Ferguson (14-3) did wobble Johnson for a moment in the third round, but it was Johnson who closed out the fight with significant strikes to the head and throat region.