Preview: UFC Fight Night 220 Prelims

Bantamweights

Garrett Armfield (8-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jose Johnson (15-7, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Armfield (-145), Johnson (+125)

It is still difficult to know what to make of Johnson. A massive bantamweight with a reedy frame, Johnson possesses a grab bag of skills that has worked to a surprisingly effective level in recent years. Johnson’s first shot at a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series saw him get outwrestled handily by Ronnie Lawrence in 2020, and while he has not necessarily shored up his takedown defense, he has proven dynamic enough to shut down that playbook in two of his last three wins. He found a triangle choke to finish fellow DWCS alum Mo Miller, then managed to turn things around on the mat enough to beat Jack Cartwright and earn a contract in August. Add in the puzzle of Johnson’s striking style, and the whole approach is difficult to parse even if it has somehow managed to work thus far. For his UFC debut, Johnson draws Armfield, who must have somehow earned the wrath of the UFC matchmakers. He made his late-notice debut against a massive featherweight in David Onama, then dropped down to his natural class at 135 pounds to somehow wind up facing an even larger opponent. Armfield is a solid but unspectacular prospect who can do a little bit of anything and has some knockout power, so he should be able to take advantage of any lapses that Johnson’s wild approach might bring. However, given how much Johnson’s approach has worked thus far, it is hard not to just side with the more dynamic fighter. The pick is Johnson via second-round submission.

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