TLDR
- Charles Johnson earned August Submission of the Month with a Scottish twister finish over Eduardo Chapolin at UFC 330
- Johnson and former champion Brandon Moreno have expressed mutual interest in fighting each other
- The flyweight contender fought through a broken foot sustained two weeks before his March victory over Bruno Silva
- Johnson rebounded from a first-round knockout loss to Alex Perez in January 2026
- His bout against seventh-ranked Asu Almabayev in June marked his first opportunity to break into the flyweight top 10
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | ufc.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
UFC flyweight Charles Johnson has captured attention with a rare Scottish twister submission and expressed mutual interest in facing former champion Brandon Moreno. The American fighter’s recent performances have positioned him for a potential breakthrough in the division’s top 10.
Johnson earned MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for August after finishing Eduardo Chapolin with a Scottish twister at UFC 330. The third-round submission capped a thrilling catchweight bout that showcased Johnson’s technical abilities.
Chapolin, a days’ notice replacement, proved to be a challenging opponent despite the short preparation time. The Brazilian received a point deduction for an illegal knee in the first round before both fighters engaged in a fast-paced second round.
After the victory, Johnson dedicated his performance to Allan Nascimento, a UFC flyweight who died from a heart attack earlier in August. Johnson was originally scheduled to face Nascimento’s teammate Jose Ochoa, who withdrew during fight week.
Another angle of the KO shows why Charles Johnson is the true prospect killer.
He finishes Lonny Kavanagh after the gas tank emptied around the 7 minute mark. Respect earned. #MMA #UFC #UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/8opTEBwWfj
— The Fight Scene (@TheFight_Scene) August 23, 2025
Recovery From Injury and Knockout Loss
The Scottish twister came after Johnson bounced back from multiple setbacks earlier in 2026. He suffered a first-round knockout loss to Alex Perez at UFC 324 in January before facing Bruno Silva in March.
Johnson revealed he broke his foot two weeks before the Silva fight when it went through the cage during training. He continued training despite being unable to jump rope or push off on his injured foot.
“I couldn’t do anything that I normally do,” Johnson explained. He was placed in a boot immediately after defeating Silva by split decision.
The mental challenge of recovering from the Perez knockout weighed heavily on Johnson during the Silva fight. He wrote in his journal during fight week that he would face mental battles on fight day.
Johnson received his next assignment less than 24 hours after beating Silva. UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard matched him against Asu Almabayev for UFC Baku in June 2026.
Top 10 Challenge and Future Prospects
The Almabayev bout represented Johnson’s first opportunity to crack the flyweight top 10. Almabayev ranked seventh in the newly released Meta UFC Rankings and brought a strong grappling background.
Johnson acknowledged the stylistic challenge, noting that Almabayev’s grappling-heavy approach differed from most flyweight opponents. He had previously fought two other Kazakh fighters and respected their well-rounded skill sets.
“I don’t expect him just to grapple,” Johnson said before the fight. He prepared for the best version of Almabayev and expected to see multiple layers of his opponent’s game.
Johnson initially wanted to face Brandon Royval at International Fight Week. However, the Almabayev matchup provided the top 10 opportunity he sought.
Now, with multiple wins and the August Submission of the Month award, Johnson and former champion Brandon Moreno have expressed mutual interest in facing each other. The potential matchup would pair two skilled flyweights as the division continues to showcase competitive depth.
Johnson’s record now stands at 20-9 in his career with a 9-7 UFC record. His recent performances have demonstrated his ability to overcome adversity and compete at higher levels in what he calls “the best weight class in all of MMA.”
