Preview: UFC Fight Night 220 Prelims

Flyweights

Charles Johnson (13-3, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ode Osbourne (11-5, 3-3 UFC)

ODDS: Johnson (-170), Osbourne (+145)

Johnson is certainly keeping up a busy schedule, as this marks his third fight in the last 10 UFC cards. A collegiate track star, “InnerG” is an obvious athlete with some solid size for the flyweight division, but he rode an odd approach to most of his regional success. He is clearly skilled but would fight behind a low-volume pressure game that would not look all that impressive up until the point that Johnson found a finish. After impressively managing to survive three rounds against uber-prospect Muhammad Mokaev in his UFC debut, Johnson has picked up the pace in his two UFC wins, going toe-to-toe against Zhalgas Zhumagulov in a grimy war before scoring a quick finish over Jimmy Flick in the first UFC fight of 2023. It is still a bit unclear exactly what all of Johnson’s disparate skills will congeal into, but he should have another fun fight while stepping on late notice against Osbourne at a 130-pound catchweight. Osbourne came to the UFC as a dynamic but inconsistent fighter via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019. Then a bantamweight, “The Jamaican Sensation” had the size and speed to pull out a dynamic finish seemingly out of nowhere, but he was also just as capable of charging directly into danger. With an eventual move to flyweight, Osbourne has found a more consistent approach with a sniping style that takes advantage of his reach, though it has not changed the dynamics of his fights much. Osbourne is still capable of an electric finish while also leaving himself open to an opponent with some sharp counters, like Tyson Nam in August. Osbourne could still wind up outpacing Johnson. However, given that Johnson is both the rare fighter that can match Osbourne’s reach and someone who usually finds a way to break open a fight, this figures to turn massively in his favor at some point. The pick is Johnson via second-round knockout.

Jump To »
Hermogenes vs. Jasudavicius
Martinez vs. Leavitt
Johnson vs. Osbourne
Solecki vs. Deaton
Aliev vs. Alves
Cowan vs. Perez
Armfield vs. Johnson