Miguel Torres takes on Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130 in Las Vegas
After Brad Pickett had to pull out of his scheduled fight with Miguel Torres at UFC 130 in Las Vegas May 28, Demetrious Johnson, who UFC President Dana White calls ‘the fastest man in the division,’ was named as Pickett’s replacement in the fight, which could determine the No. 1 contender for the bantamweight title.
MMA Odds for this fight will be available closer to May 28.
Torres, who is 39-3 with nine wins by knockout and 23 by submission, is a former WEC bantamweight champion. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Torres also features a Muay Thai striking style. Torres made his UFC debut at UFC 126 in February of this year, beating Antonio Banuelos by unanimous decision. Torres didn’t show off his full arsenal in the fight, largely playing it safe, so many expect him to show off the full skillset that made him one of the best submission bantamweights in the WEC in his second UFC performance.
Johnson also won on the UFC 126 card, defeating Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto by decision after three rounds. Johnson is 9-1 in his career with two knockouts and five submissions. Along with his speed, he’s known for his wrestling ability. Johnson’s stamina allows him to wear out opponents and once he’s able to force them to the mat, he has an array of holds that he can force submissions using.
Although Johnson doesn’t have the quick-strike ability that Torres does, he should have the advantage on the mat. The contrasting styles should make this one of the most exciting bouts on the UFC 130 card.
