Two-time Contender Series veteran Jose Johnson is set to make his octagon debut in a short-notice fight against Da’Mon Blackshear at UFC Vegas 78 after Brady Hiestand was forced to withdraw due to a medical issue.
Jose Johnson, a two-time Contender Series veteran, will finally step into the octagon for his debut UFC match, after gladly accepting a short-notice fight against Da’Mon Blackshear. This bout is part of the UFC Vegas 78 card slated for Saturday. Meanwhile, the UFC community has been abuzz after officials announced the late card change, necessitated due to an unexpected “medical issue” that forced Brady Hiestand to stand down from the competition.
Johnson steps into the fight with an impressive run under his belt. With an overall record of 15-7, he is currently enjoying a three-fight win streak. Johnson’s UFC journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. After a disappointing first appearance at the Contender Series in 2020, he made a triumphant return this August, defeating Jack Cartwright by unanimous decision. Though he joined the UFC roster subsequently, he had a pair of fights in 2022 and 2023 cancelled due to personal injuries.
Now, Johnson is priming to claim his first UFC win. Despite the short notice of only four days, he is gearing up to compete this Saturday at the event which will take place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Blackshear also has his sights set on victory. He aims to bag his second consecutive UFC win after a decisive second-round knockout over Luan Lacerda in his last match in June. Prior to this, Blackshear had suffered a decision loss to Farid Basharat in his UFC debut. The Blackshear vs. Johnson match forms part of the UFC Vegas 78 lineup, primed to conclude with an exciting welterweight duel between former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and Vicente Luque.