UFC lightweight Michael Johnson is aware there’s a perception of his capabilities in the cage as well as his shortcomings.

With two submission losses in the UFC, and four on the regional circuit, he knows some people think of him as a good fighter with a glaring weakness, no matter what he’s done since.

“Everybody thinks it’s a huge issue, but it’s just guys get caught in certain positions,” he told MMAjunkie Radio. “As far as I’m concerned, I work hard on every aspect of the game. That was always a weak point, so I always paid attention to that.”

In case fans haven’t been paying attention, Johnson (16-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) hasn’t been seen tapping in two years, when Reza Madadi caught him in a D’Arce choke at UFC on FUEL TV 9. He’s won four straight fights, putting himself on the cusp of title contention.

But before he fights opponents inside the top 10, he’s got perhaps one more test to earn his keep: Beneil Dariush (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), whom he faces in the co-headliner of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 73 event. The show, including the FOX Sports 1-televised main card, takes place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

It’s no great surprise to Johnson that Dariush is talking up his advantage on the ground. A decorated grappler, Dariush can legitimately claim he is better when the fight hits the mat. The only problem with that theory, said Johnson, is that it never will.

“The only time it’s going to be on the ground is when I’m dropping him,” Johnson said. “As far as him taking me down, we’re not playing that game.”

Informed of Dariush’s belief that not only is he in the lead if jiu-jitsu makes an appearance, but in the striking department, Johnson was amused.

“That’s funny,” he said. “That’s hilarious. If he wants to keep it on the feet and keep striking, that’s going to be a short night for him. He’s going to look up and realize, ‘What the f-ck was I thinking?’

“Edson (Barboza) had the right speed test against me. Everybody sees how fast he is, and watching Beneil, it’s like he’s moving in quicksand or something. He’s not the fastest guy, but he is strong, and he does like to smother people.”

In his most recent fight, Johnson delivered a career-high performance when he outstruck the fearsome Barboza in February at UFC Fight Night 61.

“I’m not going to look for the knockout, it’s just going to happen,” he said. “(Dariush) is coming in a little overconfident. He’s biting off a little more than he can chew; he’s got no idea what he’s getting himself into Saturday. He hasn’t fought the level I’ve fought, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how he approaches the fight.”

In all likelihood, there will be a few takedowns attempted by Dariush, whether or not things are going his way in the striking department. Johnson’s job is to reject them at every chance, something he feels he’ll execute without issue.

If successful, Johnson would like to get back into the cage sooner than later so he can further cement himself as a contender and perhaps shake off his reputation as a flawed talent.

“Yeah, I’m looking to get right back in after this one, whether it be Khabib (Nurmagomedov) or (Anthony) Pettis,” he said. “If something happens in the title fight, I could slide in there. That would be great. I’ve got to stay ready; I made the mistake after my Edson fight, and I took more time off and missed a big opportunity in fighting (Donald) ‘Cowboy’ (Cerrone). So that won’t happen again.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 73, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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