Charles Johnson looks to bounce back from TKO loss at UFC Fight Night 269

The UFC fighter is ready to put his surprising defeat behind him and focus on finishing fights.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:10pm

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Charles Johnson, a UFC fighter with an 18-8 MMA record and 7-6 UFC record, is looking to bounce back from a surprising first-round TKO loss to Alex Perez in January. Johnson, who previously earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, is determined to put the tough defeat behind him and return to the Octagon this Saturday at UFC Fight Night 269, where he will face Bruno Silva.

Why it matters

Johnson's loss to Perez was an upset, as he was expected to win the fight. The defeat halted the momentum he had built up from his previous Performance of the Night bonus. However, Johnson is focused on moving forward and showing the UFC that he is capable of finishing fights, which is a priority for the promotion.

The details

Johnson suffered the TKO loss to Perez this past January at UFC 324. Despite the setback, Johnson said he was able to get past the disappointment within a couple of days and has been working hard in the gym to address the issues that led to the defeat. He is now determined to put on a strong performance against Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night 269 and show that he can be a finisher in the Octagon.

  • Johnson lost to Perez this past January at UFC 324.
  • Johnson will face Bruno Silva this Saturday, March 16, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 269.

The players

Charles Johnson

A UFC fighter with an 18-8 MMA record and 7-6 UFC record, who is looking to bounce back from a surprising TKO loss in his last fight.

Alex Perez

The fighter who defeated Johnson by TKO in their bout at UFC 324 in January.

Bruno Silva

Johnson's upcoming opponent at UFC Fight Night 269 this Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“My whole athletic career, when I was younger, I always exceeded the moment. When there was a big expectation, I always exceeded the moment. It was very weird in January for me, right? But I was past it after a couple of days. I was sad about it, upset about it, confidence down a little bit, but once I got back in the gym after a week and started working and started talking to my coaches and addressing it with my boxing coach and got in there a little more, I was like, 'Alright, we're good.'”

— Charles Johnson

“There is no room in this promotion for just getting by with anything. You have to be prepared for it being a full fight, but the UFC wants to see finishes. They've made that very clear for you to get the opportunities you want in this promotion. ... For me, I'm always looking for moments, and I have a goal as far as when I'm finished with this UFC career, I would love to be in the record books for finishes – and so for me, that's what I'm focused on.”

— Charles Johnson

What’s next

Johnson will face Bruno Silva this Saturday, March 16, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 269 in an effort to bounce back from his TKO loss to Perez.

The takeaway

Johnson's surprising TKO defeat to Perez was a setback, but the fighter has quickly moved past the disappointment and is focused on returning to the Octagon and proving he can be a finisher, which is a priority for the UFC. His determination to get back on track and leave a lasting legacy in the promotion is admirable.