Lavar Johnson
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Lavar F. Johnson (born June 11, 1977) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former
Heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...
mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
. A professional from 2004 until 2014, he competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce and
Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
.


Background

Johnson is from
Madera, California Madera (Spanish language, Spanish for "Lumber") is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, Madera County, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Founded in 1876 as a timber town at the terminus of a major logging f ...
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 Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...
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 Budweiser () is an American-style pale lager, a brand of Belgian company AB InBev. Introduced in 1876 by Carl Conrad & Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, Budweiser has become a large selling beer company in the United States. Budweiser is a filte ...
. 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 Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...
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 Joey Beltran (born December 9, 1981) is an American bare-knuckle fighter and mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, Bellator MMA, Bel ...
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 a groin 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 after a post fight drug screening revealed elevated levels of testosterone. 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 2014 in Bellator MMA was the tenth season for Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion. It began on February 28, 2014 and aired on Spike TV. The season included tournaments for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, Light Heavyweight ...
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.


Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Johnson was scheduled to face
Rashad Coulter Orlando Rashad Coulter (born November 27, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Light heavyweight (MMA), light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 201 ...
followed by Bobby Brents on November 23, 2024 at BKFC Fight Night: Los Angeles. However, both Coulter and Brents withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Anthony Garrett. Johnson lost by knockout 12 seconds into the first round.


Personal life

Johnson has two sons.


Legal issues

In 2007, Johnson was sentenced to 14 days of jail and three years of probation as well as ordered to undergo alcohol counselling after pleading not guilty to a misdemeanor charges of corporal injury on a spouse/co-habitant. He was then jailed for 30 days for criminal threats and disobeying a domestic relations court order. On July 5, 2008, at approximately midnight, Johnson was shot (along with four others, one fatally) at a family reunion in
Bakersfield, California Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of th ...
. According to reports released by the Bakersfield Police Department, a male in his late teens approached Johnson and the other victims as they were gathering in the front yard during a family reunion/
Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...
celebration and opened fire on the crowd at random, shooting five people. Johnson was shot in the hip, the forearm, and the third bullet fired at him hit his abdomen, which was the most serious injury. Johnson's American Kickboxing Academy trainer, Bob Cook, told Sherdog.com shortly afterwards that Johnson was between serious and critical condition. Cook stated he believed Johnson had been struck twice, once in the abdomen and once in the chest. His appendix was removed and he could not eat or drink for a month after the surgery which sewed his stomach closed. In August 2008, Johnson was released from hospital, and was said to be doing well and hoping to return to training as soon as possible. A fifteen-year-old girl was later arrested in connection to the shooting. Johnson has a scar up and down his torso as a result of the surgery and his cousin, Anthony, who was from Jacksonville, Texas was the casualty. On August 25, 2015, Johnson was arrested in
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
and charged with corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and dissuading a witness by force. He had allegedly repeatedly punched, kneed and slammed his girlfriend on August 11, before fleeing the scene. He was in Fresno County Jail with bail set at $175,000. He pled not guilty to all charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months in prison. On April 29, 2016, Johnson was sentenced to five years in prison for the August 2015 assault."Madera MMA fighter sentenced in domestic abuse case", by Sontaya Rose, ABC30.com
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Championships and accomplishments

*War Gods MMA **War Gods Heavyweight Championship (One time) *
Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
** Knockout Of The Night (Two times)


Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 18–10 , Cheick Kongo , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 123 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:27 , Uncasville, Connecticut, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 18–9 , Blagoy Ivanov , Submission (americana) , Bellator 116 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:08 , Temecula, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 18–8 , Ryan Martinez , TKO (punches) ,
Bellator 111 2014 in Bellator MMA was the tenth season for Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion. It began on February 28, 2014 and aired on Spike TV. The season included tournaments for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, Light Heavyweight ...
, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:22 ,
Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located near the Texas state border. The population was 400 at the 2020 census. Geography Thackerville is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and State High ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–8 , Vinicius Queiroz , KO (punch) , Bellator 102 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:23 , Visalia, California, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–7 , Brendan Schaub , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 157 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–6 , Stefan Struve , Submission (armbar) , UFC 146 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:05 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 17–5 , Pat Barry , TKO (punches) , UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:38 ,
East Rutherford, New Jersey East Rutherford is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is an inner suburb, inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2020 Unit ...
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Joey Beltran Joey Beltran (born December 9, 1981) is an American bare-knuckle fighter and mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, Bellator MMA, Bel ...
, KO (punches) , UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:24 ,
Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 15–5 , Shawn Jordan , Submission (americana) , Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:08 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 15–4 , Shane del Rosario , Submission (armbar) , Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:31 ,
East Rutherford, New Jersey East Rutherford is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is an inner suburb, inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2020 Unit ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–3 , Virgil Zwicker , KO (punches) , Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:17 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–3 , Lolohea Mahe , TKO (punches) , Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:29 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–3 , Carl Seumanutafa , KO (punch) , Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:18 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–3 , Dave Huckaba , TKO (corner stoppage) , PFC 12: High Stakes , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:00 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3 , Sean Souza , KO (punch) , War Gods: Do or Die , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:51 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 , Vince Lucero , KO (punch) , PFC 10: Explosive , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:16 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 , Sal Farnetti , TKO (punches) , PFC: Bias vs. Blood , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:14 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–3 , Alijah Reni , Submission (rear-naked choke) , War Gods , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:31 ,
Fresno, California Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–2 , Brian Olsen , Submission (knee injury) ,
WEC 18 The year 2006 was the 6th year in the history of World Extreme Cagefighting, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. In 2006 WEC held 7 events beginning with, ''WEC 18: Unfinished Business''. Title fights Even ...
, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:14 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–1 , Corey Salter , TKO (submission to strikes) , WEC 17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:37 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–1 , Todd Gouwenberg , TKO (punches) , Freedom Fight: Canada vs USA , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:53 ,
Hull, Quebec Hull is the central business district and oldest neighbourhood of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of Canada's ...
, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 , Carlos Garcia , TKO (punches) , WEC 15 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:09 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–1 , Lace Pele , TKO (punches) , GC 33: Brutal Force , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:54 , Porterville, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Terry Pettek , Submission (guillotine choke) , Venom: First Strike , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:21 ,
Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County, California, United States. The city was originally called Pacific City, but it was changed in 1903 to be named after American businessman Henry E. Huntington. The population was 198,711 as of ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Fred Diaz , KO (punches) , WEC 11 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:33 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Kyle Keeney , KO (punches) , Lords of the Cage , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:36 ,
Anacortes, Washington Anacortes ( ) is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is an adaptation of the name of Anne Curtis Bowman, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman.WEC 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:32 , Lemoore, California, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 0–1 , Doug Marshall , TKO (corner stoppage) , WEC 9 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 , Lemoore, California, United States ,


Bare-knuckle boxing

, - , Loss , align=center, 2–1 , Anthony Garrett , KO (punch) , BKFC: Los Angeles , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:12 ,
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, United States , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Travis Wiuff , KO (punch) , Valor Bare Knuckle 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:21 ,
Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , James McSweeney , KO (punch) , Valor Bare Knuckle 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:27 , New Town, North Dakota, United States ,


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Lavar 1977 births Living people African-American mixed martial artists American male mixed martial artists American shooting survivors American sportspeople in doping cases Doping cases in mixed martial arts Heavyweight mixed martial artists Merced College alumni Mixed martial artists from California Sportspeople from Madera, California Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters 21st-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen