ROTTERDAM – Last Friday, longtime lightweight contender Michael Johnson made news by announcing somewhat unexpected plans: a move to the 145-pound division.

But the plans, he says, has long been in the making all along.

Although he is coming off two straight losses, first to contender Khabib Nurmagomedov and then to former WSOF champion Justin Gaethje in a “Fight of the Year” candidate, Johnson says he always intended to try his hand at a new division.

“There’s always been a thought in my head to drop down,” Johnson told reporters backstage at UFC Fight Night 115 after announcing his idea during a Q&A at Ahoy Rotterdam in the Netherlands. “Regardless of how I was doing in this division, win or lose, that was kind of a plan of mine – to drop down to 145, test the waters.

“Come back up to 155, maybe, because I fought everybody in the top 10 of the 155. I fought numerous people. I just wanted to see new changes, new faces and to see how I react. It has nothing to do with the fact that I lost to Justin. Even if I would have won, 145 still would have been a thought in my mind.”

Johnson has indeed faced mostly top competition in his UFC career. In fact, including Nurmagomedov and Gaethje, seven of his previous opponents are currently featured on the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings – where Johnson sits at No. 12.

Taking his history into account, it didn’t look exactly out of character when Johnson (17-12 MMA, 9-8 UFC) listed former featherweight champion Jose Aldo (26-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) – who’s only lost twice in both his UFC and WEC runs combined – as an initial target.

Aldo, who’s eager to fight in either November or December after a title-costing UFC 212 loss to Max Holloway, seemed OK with the matchup. Aldo’s coach, Andre Pederneiras, took a “put your money where your mouth is” route when asked about it.

After a few days of a balanced diet consisting mostly of ice cream and cake in the Netherlands, Johnson hasn’t yet come up with a plan for the weight-cut. Whatever the route, he already has an idea of when he wants it done by.

“I was looking toward December, and November got brought up, so we’ll have to see,” Johnson said. “We’ll have to see everybody’s schedules and see where they can fit me in.”

The timeline, it just so happens, fits perfectly with Aldo’s own return expectations. But, if for some reason that matchup can’t materialize, who could be a worthy substitute?

“The next toughest guy in line,” Johnson said. “I think that’s maybe detrimental to my career, maybe hurts it a little bit that I always go for the toughest fight. But my first fight at 145, Aldo is a former champ, he’s one of the best in the world – always been.

“So that’s one guy that I would love to fight. I’m not in this sport to fight the guy that’s OK. I want the toughest guy. I want everybody that says he can’t be beat.”

The UFC, Johnson says, is totally fine with his idea to join the featherweight roster. But he clarifies it’s going to take something special to get him to drop those added 10 pounds.

“I think that (the UFC brass and I) have a really good relationship, because I put on good fights,” Johnson said. “Regardless of where it’s going to be, whatever night. So, fingers crossed, hopefully a big fight comes at 145. Because in order for me to make that drop, it has to be a big fight. It’s going to be quite a bit of weight for me.”

To hear more from Johnson, watch the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.