As Tim Johnson's UFC career reaches a crossroads, his time in the Minnesota National Guard reaches its end. For now, anyway.
The heavyweight will take on Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 99 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Nov. 19, looking to win the fourth and final fight on his contract. And while the U.S.-vs-Russia "Rocky IV" story line will be in full effect — Volkov even goes by the nickname "Drago" — Johnson already will have received his discharge papers.
"I'm kind of focusing all my attention on fighting," said the 10-year soldier, who'll leave service as a sergeant. "This next fight is a contract fight. I'm not sure what's going to happen after this fight, so I want to keep it open. As far as going back and re-upping, I have full intention of coming back in, at some point."
Johnson said informing his fellow soldiers about his decision was like "sending a break-up text." But a win over Volkov could mean a multifight deal with enough money attached to allow for a full-time fight career. When he's not training at the Academy of Combat Arts in Fargo, North Dakota, Johnson's a bouncer, and occasionally picks up an Uber shift.
Ideally, a win gives Johnson a few years among the UFC's upper tier, which he could follow with a return to the Guard after his cage-fighting days are through. A loss, and the uniform might come back on a bit faster. Either way, Johnson, 30, hopes to return to the service that he credits for his maturity.
"It opened my eyes a lot," he said. "In the Army, the last 10 years, you come in, you're full of piss and vinegar, you think you've got everything figured out. And pretty quickly, you learn you don't. … Deployment comes along, and it's time to grow up."
Johnson performed security and route clearance missions as part of Operation New Dawn in 2011-12. In April, he headed overseas again – not on deployment, but to dispatch Polish heavyweight Marcin Tybura via three-round decision in his most recent UFC bout.
The win came with a souvenir:
It moved him to 2-1 in the UFC and 10-2 as a professional. It also gave him a window into the mindset of fight fans in Europe — one that might explain why he's heading back.
"I think it's that they don't mind looking at a chubby guy out there," he said. "America, they ridicule me. 'This guy's so out of shape, he should have a six-pack.' I'm like, 'I'm 265 pounds. I'm sorry. Six-pack's not going to happen unless I'm doing something extra. It's just not going to happen.' Over there, they're a little more acceptable of a little flab on the side."
That bulk could prove an advantage against Volkov, who regularly comes in below the 265-pound heavyweight limit. He's 26-6 as a pro and held the Bellator heavyweight crown for about a year before losing it to fellow Russian Vitaly Minakov in November 2013.
"I'm going to be able to bully him around the cage a little bit," Johnson said. "[My] coaches, teammates, they know more about him than I do. I'll look at a video just to look at how another guy moves, but other than that, I don't get too involved."
Physique aside, Johnson has earned some notoriety in fight circles for his appearance – while he doesn't have an official nickname, he has become, he noted, "the guy with the mustache."
His separation from service could have repercussions on the facial-hair front.
"Now I can make it a little better — out of regs," he said. "I don't have to worry about it on drill weekends."
More military MMA
Johnson's fight is on one of two UFC cards on two continents Nov. 19 — the second show is set for that night in Brazil.
A week before, on Nov. 12, the promotion may have an even bigger date, as it makes its debut in New York's Madison Square Garden. The long-rumored fight between Tim Kennedy — a former active-duty sniper and a sergeant first class in the Texas Army National Guard – and Rashad Evans at 185 pounds is set for the card, as is a women's 135-pound clash between Marine veteran Liz Carmouche and Katlyn Chookagian.
Carmouche (9-5) is 2-2 in the UFC since losing to Ronda Rousey in the promotion's first-ever women's bantamweight title fight in 2013. The first-round submission is the only time Carmouche has been stopped in the UFC.
Kennedy (18-5) hasn’t fought since a controversial loss to Yoel Romero in September 2014, which ended a four-fight win streak.
The 13-fight Madison Square Garden card will feature Conor McGregor versus Eddie Alvarez as the main event.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
