UFC on Versus 4: Michael Johnson leaves Cheddar's for cheddar

Photo via ultimatefighter.com

Hi, welcome to UFC on Versus 4! Tonight's special features a lightweight slugfest between MIchael Johnson and Edward Faaloloto on June 26 in Pittsburgh.
Johnson, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 runner-up, is no longer waiting tables at Cheddar's Casual Cafe in Springfield, MO. Instead, he's pooling his tips from his coaches to prepare for his upcoming scrap in "Steel City."
After fighting his way through the TUF house to earn a spot in the December 2010 live finale, "The Menace" came up short against eventual winner Jonathan Brookins in a close unanimous decision loss.
He'll try to get back into the win column while keeping Faaloloto out of it. "Falo's" only appearance under the Zuffa banner was a technical knockout loss to Anthony Njokuani at WEC 52: "Faber vs. Mizugaki" back in November of last year.
And Johnson tells Adam Hill they'll be "fighting for their lives."

"I'm still friends with the (Cheddar's) manager and I still know all the people that work there. It's great to go into that place and talk to them and catch up, but it's also great not to have to wake up every morning and say, 'Damn, not this again.' I'm not fighting a friend (this time). I'm going in there against a guy who just wants to beat me up and we're pretty much fighting for our lives. This is what we do for a living and that's what we're fighting for."

Out of sight, out of mind?
Johnson has all but dropped off the radar since his UFC debut and the 155-pound division is one place you don't want to get lost in the shuffle, especially following the promotion's merger with the WEC that has made the lightweight landscape start to buckle under the weight of its own roster.
It's win or go home.
And with Johnson's absence, many MMA fans may have forgotten just how close his fight against Brookins actually was.
From the MMAmania.com recap:

Brookins, the favorite coming into the fight, survived a lopsided first round, during which he ate several Johnson knuckle sandwiches. He rebounded to dominate the second with superior top control and ground and pound, leaving it one apiece heading into the third and decisive round.
It certainly was not as clear-cut in the third and final frame. Brooking ended up on top when the bell sounded, and more than likely did more than Johnson to earn the nod from the judges.
TUF call for the "St. Pierre" teammates. But in the end, Brookins hoisted the trophy as the unamimous decision winner of the twelfth season of TUF.

Will Johnson make the most of his second chance?