Michael Johnson issues UFC 249 challenge to Alexander Hernandez

Michael Johnson has issued a challenge to Alexander Hernandez.

According to a tweet from Johnson (19-15 MMA, 11-11 UFC) on Saturday, he needs a new opponent. Conversely, Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) recently told MMA Junkie he’s unsure his UFC 249 fight will happen, considering potential travel restrictions for his opponent Islam Makhachev.

“So @TheGreat155 we were fighting a week apart and looks like neither one of us have opponents at the moment!” Johnson wrote. “I’ll step in (and) fight you 110% if the fights still go on!!!”

To the public’s knowledge, both are currently booked for fights in April. Johnson was scheduled to fight April 25 vs. Evan Dunham at UFC on ESPN+ 31. The event is still scheduled to take place in Lincoln, Neb. Johnson’s tweet was the first reference to a possible Dunham withdrawal and no further details are known at this time.

As for Hernandez, he’s booked to fight April 18 against Makhachev at UFC 249 – an event which currently does not have a location.

“The circumstances of my opponent are a little hazy at this point,” Hernandez recently told MMA Junkie. “Everything has been hazy. They are keeping all of the information close to their chest because I’m certain they don’t want to be making any more false announcements. It’s just been kind of a fog. I’ll just keep following this UFC yellow brick road through all the scary (expletive) on the sides. I just hope there’s an arena and a pot of gold at the end. We’re kind of in the dark.”

Johnson is coming off back-to-back losses against Stevie Ray and Josh Emmett. After a loss to Donald Cerrone in January 2019, Hernandez rebounded in September, defeating Francisco Trinaldo by unanimous decision.