UFC Fight Night 61 Highlights: Michael Johnson vs. Edson Barboza

UFC lightweight Michael Johnson was riding high on the momentum of three straight wins in early 2014, but a yearlong layoff due to injuries and a suspension sort of derailed his hype train a bit.

However, the No. 12-ranked ‘Menace’ returned with a vengeance by defeating favored No. 6-ranked challenger Edson Barboza last night (Sun., February 22, 2015) in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 61 from Ginasio Gigantinho in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Using a high-volume and pressure-heavy gameplan that threw Barboza off his game by forcing him into tight spaces where he could not unleash his devastating strikes, Johnson firmly entrenched himself as a true force in the crowded UFC lightweight division. Watch the highlights of his biggest-ever victory below:

Photo Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports