DALLAS – Championship fight competitors and near-brawls grabbed most of the headlines at today’s “UFC Summer Kickoff” news conference in Dallas.

However, UFC lightweight Michael Johnson may have produced the most sinister comment of all during a back-and-forth with TUF 25 Finale opponent Justin Gaethje.

Johnson (17-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) meets Gaethje (17-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the July 7 event headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass. It’s a crucial fight for the careers of both athletes.

Gaethje makes his UFC debut at the event after a dominant run under the WSOF banner. Johnson, meanwhile, is coming off a second-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 and can ill afford to drop consecutive bouts.

“The Menace” was asked during the news conference whether he felt an obligation to represent the UFC with his performance against an opponent who has made his name in another organization. His answer quickly turned dark.

“I’m not a gatekeeper of the UFC, trust me,” Johnson told reporters. “I’m here to win this title and I’m not here to welcome guys from the C-league in here. But at the same time, yeah, of course I’m going to welcome him into the UFC and it’s not going to be a good night for him. I’ve got two months to get prepared to take somebody’s life in this cage. I’m not trying to beat him up, I’m not trying to win by decision or a point – I’m literally going to try to take this man’s life. And if you’re not ready to die, don’t show up.”

Although a threat on one’s life could be taken with great offense, Gaethje, No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, is the type to embrace it. If No. 13 Johnson plans to inflict serious damage, it means he would have to deliver a lot of offense, and that’s exactly the type of fight Gaethje relishes and thrives in.

“I’m a violent mother(expletive),” Gaethje said. “I’m the most violent lightweight on this planet, and I will prove that. You will find out. It’s going to be a march, a march to deep water, baby, and you’re not going to last. You can’t swim in this water.”

Both men are confident, but one thing that can’t be argued is the level of competition Johnson has faced over his 16-fight UFC career. He’s shared the octagon with some of the best and represents the highest caliber opponent Gaethje has been paired against. Experience doesn’t always have an impact in a fight, but in this instance, Johnson said it will.

“Deep water? I don’t need to swim – I do my fighting on land, player,” Gaethje said. “Listen, Justin, you had wars in (WSOF). But when you come over to the UFC, you won’t have a war with me man. We’re going to bang, don’t get it wrong, but you’re out of your league on this one, buddy.”

For more on the TUF 25 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.