Miles Johns poured everything into his UFC Vegas 109 main card battle with Jean Matsumoto, but the night ended in heartbreak and controversy. The bantamweights delivered one of the most entertaining fights of the evening at the UFC Apex, going toe-to-toe for three intense rounds. When the scorecards were read, Matsumoto earned a split decision victory, leaving Johns visibly emotional in the cage.
This defeat marked the first time in his professional career that Johns has suffered back-to-back losses. Before setbacks to Felipe Lima and now Matsumoto, he had built momentum with a four-fight unbeaten streak, including wins over Cody Gibson and Douglas Silva de Andrade.
In a since-deleted Instagram story, Johns broke his silence on the outcome and the emotional weight of the decision.
“I don’t know, guys, I really thought we won that fight. I thought the takedown in the third round secured the deal,” Johns said. “When the fight was over, I was not nervous; I thought we for sure won. It is what it is. The part that makes me upset is our life is literally in the hands of these dumb flipping judges who don’t know what they are doing.
They don’t realize I have four kids. I have mouths to feed, and they’re making bad decisions when a lot of money is on the line. They’re not held accountable at all. No one goes back to them and says, ‘Show me why you scored it this way.’
The one judge who had me winning scored Matsumoto for the first round and me for the second and third. Matsumoto clearly won the second round! But I won the first and third. It is what it is. I’m going to get back to work and stay proud of my performance.”
Johns’ frustration echoed sentiments shared by other fighters on the card. The opening fight saw Eric McConico take a decision win over Cody Brundage, sparking ‘robbery’ calls from fans online. Even the UFC Vegas 109 co-main event faced scrutiny for questionable scoring.
Despite the sting of the loss, Miles Johns remains determined to regroup and move forward. His performance against Matsumoto was a reminder of his grit, and his passion for the sport remains unshaken. For Johns, the focus now shifts to getting back in the gym, refining his game, and working toward redemption inside the octagon.
