DaMarques Johnson
Born	(1982-06-28)June 28, 1982 (age 43) West Jordan, Utah, United States
Other names	Darkness
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division	MiddleweightWelterweight
Reach	75 in (190 cm)
Fighting out of	Sandy, Utah, United States
Team	Elite Performance
Rank	Brown belt inBrazilian jiu-jitsu[1]
Years active	2005–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	31
Wins	16
By knockout	6
By submission	8
By decision	2
Losses	15
By knockout	5
By submission	8
By decision	2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog

DaMarques Johnson (born June 28, 1982) is a retired Americanmixed martial artist. He competed for theUFC andKing of the Cage and was theWelterweight runner-up onThe Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom.

Johnson was born and raised inWest Jordan, Utah, he and his family were poor and lived in a rough part of the town.^[2] Johnson was primarily raised by his Mormon mother, as his father died when he was nine years old.^[2] Johnson attended and graduated fromKearns High School, where he competed inwrestling and basketball and would often get into fights.^[3] In 2000, Johnson joined theUnited States Army andNational Guard, an option given to him as a kid to get out of some trouble.^[2] Johnson, who was a standout inhand to hand combat, worked in the S-1 and did paperwork for other soldiers while assigned to aSpecial Forces group. It was in 2001, while still enlisted, when a fellow soldier in his platoon introduced to Johnson toBrazilian jiu-jitsu. He trained at Close Combat Institute (CCI)^[4] After returning to civilian life following his eight years of active duty, he metJeremy Horn and began training in mixed martial arts at his gym.^[5] Before taping for theUltimate Fighter, DaMarques taught children's Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes at Sandy'sElite Performance gym.^[6]

Johnson, who in the earlier portions of his career fought as high in the weight classes asHeavyweight had his first fight in 2005, losing by technical knockout. He was submitted by the highly regardedBrock Larson in his second fight. In his third professional fight, Johnson had his first win at aKing of the Cage event, winning the fight by submission due to punches.^[7]

Johnson appeared onThe Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. He defeated Ray Elbe by technical knockout in an elimination match earning him a spot on theUnited States team. Johnson won his second fight againstDean Amasinger by submission using a triangle choke, which is noted by his coaches and teammates to be his signature submission move. Johnson won his semi-final match up againstNick Osipczak by unanimous decision. This win earned him the first spot in the Welterweight Finals.^[8]

Johnson also gained notoriety throughout the series due to his ongoing feud with Team UK coachMichael Bisping. Tensions reached an all-time high after Bisping squirted water into Johnson's face citing that Johnson had made a racist comment toward him earlier in the week. However, the comment was made by fellow USA teammate Cameron Dollar, causing Bisping to apologize to Johnson for his behavior.

Johnson lost hisUFC debut when he foughtJames Wilks on June 20, 2009, in Las Vegas to crown theTUF 9 welterweight winner. Johnson tapped out to arear-naked choke with six seconds left in round one. After the finale, Johnson was offered a multi-fight contract with the UFC.

Johnson was scheduled to face off againstPeter Sobotta on November 14, 2009, atUFC 105, but the bout was cancelled due to a military commitment for Sobotta.^[9][10] Johnson instead fought and defeatedEdgar García via submission (triangle choke) in the first round atUFC 107, earning him aSubmission of the Night bonus.^[11] UFC.com ranked the submission fourth in the UFC's 2009 Submission of Year and had honorable mention for UFC's 2009 Fight of the Year.

AtUFC 112, Johnson fought seasoned veteranBrad Blackburn, defeating him via third-round TKO with a kick to the body and follow up punches.^[12][13] Johnson received his second UFC bonus, winningKnockout of the Night honors.

Johnson then facedMatthew Riddle on August 1, 2010, atUFC on Versus 2. However, Johnson weighed in at 172.5 lb (and only lost half a pound after the weigh-in). Johnson had to give up 20% of his purse to Riddle.^[14] Riddle defeated Johnson via TKO in the second round.

Johnson next facedMike Guymon on January 22, 2011, atUFC Fight Night 23.^[15] He won the fight via verbal submission in the first round after applying a body triangle.

Johnson facedAmir Sadollah on March 26, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 24, replacing an injuredJames Wilks on just two weeks notice.^[16] Johnson lost the bout in the second round after tapping out to elbows while he was trapped in the 'gift wrap' control.

Johnson was expected to faceClay Harvison on September 17, 2011, atUFC Fight Night 25^[17] However, Johnson was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced bySeth Baczynski.^[18]

Johnson/Harvison took place on November 12, 2011, atUFC on Fox 1.^[19] Johnson won the fight via first-round KO after hitting Harvison with an uppercut that knocked him down and seemingly unconscious.

Johnson fought British fighterJohn Maguire on April 14, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva.^[20] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Johnson facedMike Swick on August 4, 2012, atUFC on FOX 4.^[21] Swick rocked Johnson early in the first round but Johnson weathered the storm and seemed to have the advantage at the end of the round with his grappling. Early in the second round Swick leg swept Johnson to the ground and finished him off with a punch; followed by two more strikes to an already unconscious Johnson.

Johnson was tabbed as a short notice replacement and faced promotional newcomerGunnar Nelson at a catchweight of 175 lbs. on September 29, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV 5, replacing an injuredPascal Krauss.^[22] Johnson did not make weight, coming in at 186.5 lbs. and lost the fight via first round submission due to a rear naked choke. After his loss to Nelson and missing weight by 16.5 lbs., Johnson was released from the UFC.^[23]

Johnson was expected to face Jason South at Showdown Fights 10 on February 8, 2013, however the bout was cancelled prior to the event.^[24]

Finally, over a year after his UFC release, Johnson faced Ian Williams at Cage Warrior Combat 9 on November 2, 2013. He lost the fight via split decision.^[25] He was then expected to face Indalecio Tat Romero at Dakota FC: Winter Brawl on January 11, 2014. However, Johnson was forced out of the bout due to injury.^[26]

He was expected to face Dan Stittgen in the main event of APFC 16 on April 5, 2014,^[27] however Johnson was removed from the bout and the fight was cancelled.^[28]

Johnson foughtMatt Dwyer at Battlefield Fight League 30 on May 23, 2014.^[29] He lost via second-round TKO, bringing his losing streak to five in a row.^[30]

Johnson has a son.^[2]

• Throwdown Showdown
  • TS Welterweight Championship (One time)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Submission of the Night (One time)vs.Edgar García
  • Knockout of the Night (One time)vs.Brad Blackburn
  • UFC.com Awards
    • 2009:Ranked #4 Submission of the Yearvs.Edgar Garcia^[31]

• Professional MMA record for DaMarques Johnson fromSherdog
• UFC Profile
• Sponsorship and Clothing Line

• Living people
• American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• American male mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists from Utah
• Welterweight mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling
• Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Sportspeople from Salt Lake City
• 1982 births
• Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata