Charles Johnson

Charles Anthony Johnson (born January 10, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) flyweight champion. As of August 18, 2026, he is No. 14 in the Meta UFC flyweight rankings.

Background Johnson was born in Topeka, Kansas, and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of four. During high school, he was selected to represent his state in wrestling, cross country, long distance running, and sprinting, and was competing in the state championships in American football.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Starting his professional career in 2016, Johnson fought under various promotions, most notably Legacy Fighting Alliance.

On July 2, 2021, Johnson faced Yuma Horiuchi in the LFA flyweight interim championship match at LFA 110, winning the title by split decision in 5 rounds.

On August 27, 2021, Johnson faced challenger Juan Camilo in the LFA flyweight title match at LFA 114, winning by TKO in the second round with punches. He successfully defended the interim title for the first time, and after the match, regular champion Victor Altamirano moved to UFC, and Johnson was recognized as the regular champion.

On January 21, 2021, Johnson faced challenger Carlos Mota in the LFA flyweight title match at LFA 122, fighting a fierce battle and winning by TKO with a right straight in the fifth round. He successfully defended the title for the first time.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Johnson made his UFC debut against Muhammad Mokaev on July 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 212. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC Fight Night 215. He won the fight via split decision. 12 out of 13 media outlets scored the fight in favor of Zhumagulov.

Johnson faced Jimmy Flick on January 14, 2023, UFC Fight Night 217. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

Johnson faced Ode' Osbourne on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. He lost the fight via split decision.

Johnson faced Cody Durden on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Rafael Estevam on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Azat Maksum on February 3, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 235, replacing Nate Maness on that bout. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.

In his next fight, he faced Jake Hadley on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Joshua Van on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59. He won the bout by knockout in the third round. This earned him his first Performance of the Night award.

Johnson faced Su Mudaerji on October 19, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 245. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Ramazon Temirov on March 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 253. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Lone'er Kavanagh on August 23, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 257. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Johnson faced Alex Perez on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324. Perez weighed in at 128.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight, and Perez was fined 25 percent of his purse, which was awarded to Johnson. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Johnson faced Bruno Gustavo da Silva on March 14, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 269. He won the fight by split decision.

Johnson faced Asu Almabayev on June 27, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 280. He lost the fight via a Suloev submission in the third round.

Johnson was scheduled to face Jose Ochoa on August 15, 2026 at UFC 330. However, Ochoa pulled out for undisclosed reasons three days before the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer and former LFA Flyweight Champion Eduardo Henrique in a 130 pound catchweight bout. Johnson defeated Henrique via a rare scottish twister submission in the third round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Eduardo Henrique Submission (twister) UFC 330

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Asu Almabayev Submission (Suloev stretch) UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres

Baku, Azerbaijan Win

Bruno Gustavo da Silva Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Alex Perez TKO (punches) UFC 324

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Lone'er Kavanagh KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang

Shanghai, China Loss

Ramazan Temirov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Su Mudaerji Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joshua Van KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Jake Hadley Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Azat Maksum Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rafael Estevam Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Cody Durden Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ode' Osbourne Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jimmy Flick TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Zhalgas Zhumagulov Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Muhammad Mokaev Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall

London, England Win

Carlos Mota TKO (punches) LFA 122

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

João Camilo TKO (punches) LFA 114

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Yuma Horiuchi Decision (split) LFA 110

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

Karlee Pangilinan Submission (anaconda choke) LFA 100

Park City, Kansas, United States Loss

Brandon Royval Decision (unanimous) LFA 48

Kearney, Nebraska, United States Win

Andrew Kimzey TKO (punches) LFA 42

Branson, Missouri, United States Loss

Sean Santella Decision (unanimous) PA Cage Fight 31

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Marc Tong Van Submission (brabo choke) Elite Fight League 1

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Win

Jeremiah Cullum Decision (split) LFA 21

Branson, Missouri, United States Win

Michael Graves Decision (unanimous) Gateway Fighting Series 9

St. Charles, Missouri, United States Win

Ray Allard Submission (kimura) Fight Hard MMA 19

St. Charles, Missouri, United States Win

Alex Stephens TKO (submission to punches) True Revelation MMA 31

Burlington, Iowa, United States Win

Austin Reed TKO (punches) Ultimate Blue Corner FC 1

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Professional boxing record