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Lavar Johnson
Born (1977-06-11) June 11, 1977 (age 47)
Madera, California, United States
Other names Big
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 253 lb (115 kg; 18 st 1 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Reach 81 in (206 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Fresno, California, United States
Team Pro Buhawe
AKA
Years active 2004–2006, 2008–2014 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total 28
Wins 18
By knockout 17
By submission 1
Losses 10
By knockout 2
By submission 7
By decision 1

Lavar F. Johnson (born June 11, 1977) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former Heavyweight mixed martial artist. A professional from 2004 until 2014, he competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce and Bellator MMA.

Background

Johnson is from Madera, California and was a star football player, attending Madera High School where a coach nicknamed Johnson "Black Superman." Johnson then continued his career excelling as an outside linebacker and strong safety at Merced College before playing at the semi-professional level. Johnson competed in Toughman Contests and dominated, leading him to transition into professional mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

World Extreme Cagefighting

Johnson made his professional mixed martial arts debut in the WEC on January 16, 2004, losing to future WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Doug Marshall via TKO (corner stoppage). The bout was somewhat marred by controversy as Johnson was on the receiving end of four low blows over the course of the bout, which was eventually stopped due to exhaustion on his part. Johnson had entered the bout without any training or preparation beyond hitting a heavy bag. He next defeated Levi Thornbrue via TKO (punches). He knocked out Fred Diaz with punches at WEC 11: Evolution. Johnson then fought twice outside of WEC, winning both bouts via first round stoppage. He returned to face Corey Salter at WEC 17: Halloween Fury 4, making him submit to strikes in the first round. In Johnson's final WEC fight, he lost to the final WEC Heavyweight Champion Brian Olsen via submission due to a knee injury.

After the loss to Olsen, and because of the knee injury sustained during that loss, Johnson briefly left mixed martial arts to become a delivery driver for Budweiser. Johnson claimed that the cost of his medical expenses, coupled with his inability to train and fight, because of his injury, necessitated that he go get a "real" job. He returned to fighting after a two-and a-half year layoff, with a submission loss to Alijah Reni.

He went on to defeat his next four opponents via first round stoppage, before being signed by Strikeforce.

Strikeforce

Johnson made his Strikeforce debut against Carl Seumanutafa at Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina, knocking him out with a punch 18 seconds into the first round. Johnson knocked out Seumanutafa with an uppercut while Seumanutafa was going for a takedown.

Johnson was shot on July 4, 2009, while at a family reunion. Johnson was rumored to return to action at Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi, facing Lolohea Mahe. The match was instead moved to Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe, as the main event. Johnson won by TKO due to punches in the second round.

He next faced current Bellator fighter Virgil Zwicker at Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker, knocking him out with punches in the first round.

Johnson fought in a Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament alternate match, submitting to Shane Del Rosario's armbar in the first round.

Johnson's next fight came against former Louisiana State University football player, Shawn Jordan at Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough. Johnson lost via submission to an americana in the second round. Afterwards, he took time off to heal injuries to his right elbow and left knee.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Johnson made his UFC debut on January 28, 2012, defeating Joey Beltran via first-round KO at UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis. This earned him the Knockout of the Night bonus award.

Johnson returned just over three months later for his second UFC fight, defeating fan-favorite Pat Barry via first-round TKO at UFC on Fox 3. For this, he was awarded his second consecutive Knockout of the Night bonus.

Johnson replaced an injured Mark Hunt on ten days' notice and was defeated by Stefan Struve on the main card of UFC 146 via submission due to an armbar in the first round.

Johnson was expected to face Brendan Schaub on December 8, 2012, at UFC on Fox 5. However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with an injury and Schaub was pulled from the card altogether.

Johnson/Schaub eventually took place on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. Johnson lost the fight via unanimous decision. Johnson was subsequently released from the organization. His fighting license was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission till November 23, 2013. Johnson admitted he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy and had not disclosed this on his pre-fight medical questionnaire.

Bellator MMA

Following his release from the UFC, Johnson signed with Bellator MMA. He debuted on October 4, 2013, in the heavyweight tournament against Vinicius Queiroz at Bellator 102. In a surprising upset, Johnson was stopped by one punch just 23 seconds into the fight, marking the first time he had been knocked out in his career.

Johnson returned to the Bellator cage in March 2014 as a participant in the Bellator Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament. He faced Ryan Martinez in the opening round at Bellator 111 on March 7, 2014. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. Johnson faced Blagoy Ivanov in the semifinals at Bellator 116 on April 11, 2014. He lost the back-and-forth bout via submission in the first round.

Johnson faced Cheick Kongo on September 5, 2014, at Bellator 123. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Bare-knuckle boxing

Valor Bare Knuckle

On September 21, 2019, Johnson returned to professional fighting via bare-knuckle boxing, defeating former UFC and Ultimate Fighter veteran James McSweeney via first-round TKO at Valor Bare Knuckle 1.

Personal life

Johnson has two sons.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
28 matches 18 wins 10 losses
By knockout 17 2
By submission 1 7
By decision 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 18–10 Cheick Kongo Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 123 September 5, 2014 1 3:27 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss 18–9 Blagoy Ivanov Submission (americana) Bellator 116 April 11, 2014 1 4:08 Temecula, California, United States Bellator Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Win 18–8 Ryan Martinez TKO (punches) Bellator 111 March 7, 2014 1 4:22 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Bellator Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Loss 17–8 Vinicius Queiroz KO (punch) Bellator 102 October 4, 2013 1 0:23 Visalia, California, United States
Loss 17–7 Brendan Schaub Decision (unanimous) UFC 157 February 23, 2013 3 5:00 Anaheim, California, United States Tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
Loss 17–6 Stefan Struve Submission (armbar) UFC 146 May 26, 2012 1 1:05 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–5 Pat Barry TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller May 5, 2012 1 4:38 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Knockout of the Night.
Win 16–5 Joey Beltran KO (punches) UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis January 28, 2012 1 4:24 Chicago, Illinois, United States Knockout of the Night.
Loss 15–5 Shawn Jordan Submission (americana) Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough September 23, 2011 2 3:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 15–4 Shane del Rosario Submission (armbar) Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva February 12, 2011 1 4:31 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout.
Win 15–3 Virgil Zwicker KO (punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker October 22, 2010 1 2:17 Fresno, California, United States
Win 14–3 Lolohea Mahe TKO (punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe March 26, 2010 2 3:29 Fresno, California, United States
Win 13–3 Carl Seumanutafa KO (punch) Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina May 15, 2009 1 0:18 Fresno, California, United States
Win 12–3 Dave Huckaba TKO (corner stoppage) PFC 12: High Stakes January 22, 2009 1 3:00 Lemoore, California, United States Huckaba refused to answer bell for second round.
Win 11–3 Sean Souza KO (punch) War Gods: Do or Die November 8, 2008 1 2:51 Fresno, California, United States Won War Gods Heavyweight Championship.
Win 10–3 Vince Lucero KO (punch) PFC 10: Explosive September 26, 2008 1 1:16 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 9–3 Sal Farnetti TKO (punches) PFC: Bias vs. Blood August 21, 2008 1 2:14 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 8–3 Alijah Reni Submission (rear-naked choke) War Gods July 26, 2008 1 1:31 Fresno, California, United States
Loss 8–2 Brian Olsen Submission (knee injury) WEC 18 January 13, 2006 2 0:14 Lemoore, California, United States For the vacant WEC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 8–1 Corey Salter TKO (submission to strikes) WEC 17 October 14, 2005 1 3:37 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 7–1 Todd Gouwenberg TKO (punches) Freedom Fight: Canada vs USA July 9, 2005 3 2:53 Hull, Quebec, Canada
Win 6–1 Carlos Garcia TKO (punches) WEC 15 May 19, 2005 1 1:09 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 5–1 Lace Pele TKO (punches) GC 33: Brutal Force December 12, 2004 1 0:54 Porterville, California, United States
Win 4–1 Terry Pettek Submission (guillotine choke) Venom: First Strike September 18, 2004 1 0:21 Huntington Beach, California, United States
Win 3–1 Fred Diaz KO (punches) WEC 11 August 20, 2004 1 1:33 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 2–1 Kyle Keeney KO (punches) Lords of the Cage June 5, 2004 1 1:36 Anacortes, Washington, United States
Win 1–1 Levi Thornbrue TKO (punches) WEC 10 May 21, 2004 1 2:32 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 0–1 Doug Marshall TKO (corner stoppage) WEC 9 January 16, 2004 1 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States Stoppage due to exhaustion.

Bare-knuckle boxing

Professional record breakdown
1 match 1 win 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 James McSweeney KO (punch) Valor Bare Knuckle 1 September 21, 2019 1 0:27 New Town, North Dakota, USA
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