UFC 186 PREVIEW: DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON VS. KYOJI HORIGUCHI
By Brett Okamoto, ESPN
Demetrious Johnson waited four months for John Lineker, only to get stood up.
Johnson (21-2-1), the six-time defending UFC flyweight champion, needed an opponent after he utterly dismantled Chris Cariaso in September -- and Lineker looked like a viable option. Actually, he looked like a great option.
The hard-hitting Brazilian had won five of six at that time, with four knockouts. He wasn't some anonymous flyweight who happened to be on a winning streak. Lineker's punching power was drawing attention. All he needed to do was beat Ian McCall at UFC 183 on Jan. 31 and Johnson would have his man.
Then Lineker (25-7) missed weight the day before UFC 183 for the fourth time in his UFC career. He went on to beat McCall but it didn't matter as far as Johnson was concerned. Lineker was forced to move up to bantamweight.
