UFC lightweight Michael Johnson is an advocate of hard sparring, and a lot of it. He thinks it’s the only way to accurately simulate the conditions of a fight.

But he’s also suffered the physical consequences of that wear and tear. Nagging injuries, and a recent shoulder surgery, have held him up in the octagon.

The past two times Johnson has fought, he’s fallen short in decision losses to Beneil Dariush and Nate Diaz, respectively.

Johnson, though, claims he’s turned a corner and is finally 100 percent healthy to give his best performance. Next up is a meeting with the surging Dustin Poirier, and he has the chance to put a big win under his belt.

“I’ve been dealing with these injuries, and I haven’t been healthy my last three, four fights,” said Johnson (16-10 MMA, 8-6 UFC), who meets Poirier (20-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 94, which takes place Sept. 17 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, on FS1. “I had shoulder surgery, where I just found out about little tears. To finally get everything back and be prepared and excited to have a training camp, it’s incredible.

“My shoulders and knees are at 100 percent. I think that was holding me back in pulling the trigger. I think guys were like, ‘I usually see Michael working more that that.’ But it might have had something to do with my shoulder being torn.”

Poirier, the No. 13 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, can relate when it comes to redemption in the UFC. Previously a career featherweight, he endured a brutal weight cut that may have made him more susceptible to damage during fights. After a loss to now-champ Conor McGregor, he moved to lightweight, where the added pounds have helped him build a four-fight win streak.

“I’m going to go in there and look to finish,” the No. 12-ranked Johnson said. “That’s what I do every fight. This is a statement fight for me. I’ve got to come back and bounce off these two losses and show these guys that I’m not going anywhere in the division.

“I feel like everybody gets their time to shock the world. When it’s my time to shock the world, I’m going to do more than that, I’m going to crush it. This is it, and there’s no looking back. There’s dark thoughts going through my mind right now. I haven’t punched anybody in a while.”

If successful against Poirier, Johnson has his mind set on a rematch with the last fighter to beat him, Nate Diaz. It was his loss that set up a blockbuster fight with McGregor, with the younger Diaz calling out the champ inside the octagon, and he wants to wrestle back the spotlight.

“I feel like after this win over Dustin, I’ve got wins over Ferguson and Edson, so I can stake that case,” Johnson said. “I do have two losses, but I want to fight Diaz again. I want that rematch, badly. I was really impressed with him coming in shape. But I want to get in there and get this victory and then get that rematch, if it’s something I’m capable of doing.”

But first, he’s got to make an example of Poirier.

For more on UFC Fight Night 94, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show, available on SiriusXM Ch. 93, is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.