Kajan Johnson

Kajan Johnson (born April 21, 1984) is a Canadian retired mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the lightweight division of the UFC. A professional competitor since 2002, he is also known for competing The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia for Team Canada, as well as the MFC and King of the Cage.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Johnson made his MMA debut in 2002, going 4–4 by years end. Johnson then made his MFC debut losing to Chad Hanseh.

Starting in October 2005, Johnson went 11–1–1 over five years with his only loss coming in a title fight for the KOTC Canadian Lightweight Championship against future UFC top contender and training partner Rory MacDonald. He also captured the XMMA Lightweight title.

Johnson would make his return to MFC at MFC 23 taking on Ryan Machan. He lost via submission in the first round.

Johnson was set to take on Orestes Betran at MFC 27. Betran then pulled out of the match and was replaced with a veteran of 29 fights at the time, Ryan Healy. He won via unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter In late 2013 it was announced that Johnson will be one of the Canadian fighters picked to be on TUF Nations Team Canada.

In episode 1, Johnson is picked to fight first against Australia's own Brendan O’Reilly. Johnson states that he is injured, but that he always fights injured. Despite the injuries, Johnson implies he is still more dangerous than anybody else in the house. Johnson gives Canada their first win with a rear-naked choked in the first round.

In episode 10, Johnson was set to face his teammate Chad Laprise in the semi-finals. Johnson lost via KO in the second round. Johnson's jaw was broken from the punch.

After the show Johnson was noted as the reason for the removal of fellow TUF Nations contestant Tyler Manawaroa from the UFC after claiming Tyler was a racist due to an image posted on his personal Instagram. Tyler was of native New Zealand Maori descent and later explained it was the actions of a schoolboy making fun of himself and his own heritage, as in Australia many Aboriginals, Maoris and Polynesians consider themselves 'dark-skinned' or 'non-white'. Kajan later apologised though nevertheless Tyler was removed from the UFC roster and remains inactive yet undefeated .

Ultimate Fighting Championship Johnson made his promotional debut at UFC 174, taking on Tae Hyun Bang. He lost via knockout in the third round. They both earned Fight of the Night honors.

Johnson was then set to face Zhang Lipeng on May 16, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 66. He won via unanimous decision.

Johnson faced Naoyuki Kotani on September 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 75. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Returning from a near two-year hiatus, Johnson faced Adriano Martins at UFC 215 on September 9, 2017. He won the fight via knockout in the third round.

Johnson was scheduled to face Rustam Khabilov on March 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 127. However, Khabilov pulled out of the fight citing injury and was replaced by Stevie Ray. He won the fight via split decision.

Johnson faced Islam Makhachev on July 28, 2018, at UFC on Fox 30. He lost the fight via armbar submission in the first round.

The fight with Rustam Khabilov was rescheduled and eventually took place on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 136. Johnson lost the back-and-forth fight by split decision. 12 out of 13 media scores gave it to Johnson.

On September 29, 2018, Johnson revealed that the fight with Khabilov was the last of his contract and the UFC had not made any attempts to re-sign him.

He announced his retirement from mixed martial arts in 2020 after his release from the UFC.

Championships and achievements Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) Xtreme MMA XMMA Lightweight Title (One time) MMAJunkie.com 2018 Robbery of the Year vs. Rustam Khabilov

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Rustam Khabilov Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik

Moscow, Russia Loss

Islam Makhachev Submission (armbar) UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Stevie Ray Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov

London, England Win

Adriano Martins KO (punch) UFC 215

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Naoyuki Kotani Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson

Saitama, Japan Win

Zhang Lipeng Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber May 16, 2015

Pasay, Philippines Loss

Tae Hyun Bang KO (punch) UFC 174 June 14, 2014

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Richie Whitson Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 31: Rundown October 7, 2011

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Ryan Healy Decision (unanimous) MFC 27: Breaking Point November 12, 2010

Enoch, Alberta, Canada Loss

Ryan Machan Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 23: Unstoppable December 4, 2009

Enoch, Alberta, Canada Win

Josh Russell TKO (doctor stoppage) Heat XC 4: Hysteria November 6, 2009

Enoch, Alberta, Canada Win

Steve Claveau Submission (armbar) XMMA 7: Inferno February 27, 2009

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Samuel Guillet Submission (armbar) XMMA 6: House of Pain November 8, 2008

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Zach Light KO (punches) EFC 6: Home Coming October 11, 2008

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Win

Douglas Evans Submission (rear-naked choke) Raw Combat: Resurrection June 20, 2008

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Draw

Steve Claveau Draw (majority) XMMA 4 May 17, 2008

Saguenay, Quebec, Canada Loss

Rory MacDonald TKO (elbows and punches) KOTC Canada: Avalanche December 15, 2007

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Win

Dave Pariseau Submission (rear-naked choke) EFC 5: Revolution November 3, 2007

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Win

Jason St. Louis TKO (submission to punches) KOTC Canada: Megiddo April 28, 2007

Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Win

Robert Hugus Submission (armbar) KOTC Canada: Detonator September 29, 2006

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Todd Steen Submission (rear-naked choke) Canada: Anarchy February 11, 2006

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Win

Gord Cummings TKO (punches) Extreme Fighting Challenge 4 October 15, 2005

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Win

Roger Alves Decision (split) Extreme Fighting Challenge 3 October 16, 2004

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Stephane Dube KO (spinning back kick) TKO 15: Unstoppable February 28, 2004

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Thierry Quenneville Decision (split) TKO 14: Road Warriors November 29, 2003

Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada Win

Jaime Renne Submission (triangle choke) Western Freestyle Championships October 12, 2003

Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Mike Adams Decision (unanimous) WFF 5: New Blood June 28, 2003

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Win

Jeremy Whittingham Decision (unanimous) MFC 7: Undisputed May 31, 2003

Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada Loss

Chad Hamzeh TKO (punches) MFC 6: Road To Gold February 22, 2003

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Win

Chris Ade Decision (split) XFC: Combat Showdown November 23, 2002

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Justin Livingston Decision (majority) World Freestyle Fighting 3 October 25, 2002

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Len Smith Decision (unanimous) Roadhouse Rumble 6 October 5, 2002

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Loss

Josh Thomson TKO (submission to elbows) North American Sport Fighting Invitational September 7, 2002

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Aaron Krafczyk TKO (submission to punches) Border Town Brawl July 27, 2002

Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada Win

Pedro Albuquerque TKO (exhaustion) Extreme Fighting Challenge 1 June 2, 2002

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Justin Jones TKO (submission to punches) Ultimate Ring Challenge 2 April 27, 2002

Olympia, Washington, United States Win

Eric Harvey TKO (submission to punches) Roadhouse Rumble 5 February 23, 2002

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Exhibition record Loss

Chad Laprise KO (punch)

March 19, 2014 (airdate)

Win

Brendan O’Reilly Submission (rear-naked choke) January 15, 2014 (airdate)