Who Is Ben Johnston? Meet the Australian Muay Thai World Champion Who Reached the UFC After Retirement

Who is Ben Johnston? The Australian UFC middleweight took one of the most unusual routes to the Octagon, reaching the promotion at 35 after becoming a Muay Thai world champion, building his own gym, winning an Eternal MMA title and then stepping away from active competition.

Johnston had already accepted that his serious fighting career might be finished.

Instead, coaching took over.

Ben Johnston Fighter Information

Who Is Ben Johnston?

Ben Johnston is an Australian professional mixed martial artist, former Eternal MMA middleweight champion, Muay Thai world champion and coach.

He fights at middleweight and represents The Fight Centre in Brisbane, Queensland.

However, Johnston’s MMA record tells only a small part of his combat sports experience.

Long before he entered the UFC, he had already competed extensively in Muay Thai.

That striking background eventually became the foundation for his transition into mixed martial arts.

Where Is Ben Johnston From?

Johnston is from Australia and is closely associated with Brisbane, Queensland.

The Fight Centre became the base for both his own career and his work as a coach.

Meanwhile, his connection with City Kickboxing in New Zealand added another major layer to his development.

Therefore, Johnston’s fighting identity combines two major environments.

Brisbane is home.

City Kickboxing helped reshape his approach to MMA.

What Is Ben Johnston Known For?

Johnston is known for several things:

• World-level Muay Thai experience
• MMA striking
• Submission ability
• Coaching
• The Fight Centre
• City Kickboxing connections
• Winning an Eternal MMA middleweight championship
• Returning from retirement for the UFC

Interestingly, his MMA statistics do not look like those of a pure Muay Thai fighter.

Four of his five professional MMA victories have come by submission.

That contrast makes Johnston’s fighting profile particularly unusual.

Was Ben Johnston a Muay Thai World Champion?

Yes.

Johnston became a WBC Muay Thai world champion before his UFC career.

His public profile also identifies him as a world Muay Thai champion, while an earlier interview introduced him as a WBC world champion and referenced additional kickboxing championship credentials.

Therefore, he entered MMA with extensive striking experience before developing the grappling skills required for mixed martial arts.

What Was Ben Johnston’s Muay Thai Nickname?

During his Muay Thai career, Johnston was known as “The Blade” or “Benny the Blade.”

He later stopped using the nickname regularly in MMA.

Johnston explained that he became less interested in fight nicknames once athletes increasingly began choosing elaborate names for themselves.

For him, a nickname felt more authentic when someone else gave it to the fighter.

As a result, UFC records currently list him without an official nickname.

Why Did Ben Johnston Stop Using ‘The Blade’?

The nickname belonged more strongly to an earlier period of his career.

Johnston said “Ben the Blade” was commonly used during his early Muay Thai years.

Later, it became “Benny the Blade.”

However, once his City Kickboxing era developed, he increasingly became known simply as Ben Johnston.

Therefore, “The Blade” remains part of his history rather than his current official MMA identity.

What Is Ben Johnston’s Fighting Style?

Johnston’s foundation is Muay Thai.

His striking game benefits from his height, timing, knees and years of experience fighting under stand-up rules.

However, he has also developed a strong submission game.

His professional MMA victories include:

• Four submissions
• One knockout or TKO

That record shows how dramatically Johnston evolved after entering MMA.

Opponents cannot simply treat him as a tall kickboxer.

Is Ben Johnston a Striker or Grappler?

Johnston is primarily known as a striker because of his Muay Thai background.

However, his MMA results make him much more complicated.

Four of his five victories have come by submission.

Furthermore, he has developed significant jiu-jitsu experience and has been described as a high-level brown belt.

Therefore, Johnston’s most famous background and his most common MMA finishing method are actually different.

What Submissions Has Ben Johnston Used in MMA?

The rear-naked choke has been particularly effective.

Johnston submitted:

• Kahn Sandy
• Emil Jeries
• John-Martin Fraser

with rear-naked chokes.

His first listed professional victory over Evan Smith also came by rear-naked choke.

That means all four of Johnston’s professional submission victories came through the same technique.

Clearly, taking the back has become one of his most reliable paths to victory.

Does Ben Johnston Have Knockout Power?

Yes.

His Muay Thai background makes that unsurprising.

Johnston recorded a first-round TKO over Yoon Seo Shin in 2023 using a knee and punches.

Afterward, he explained that his opponent had been willing to exchange aggressively in the pocket.

Johnston remained patient, listened to his corner and eventually found the finish.

He also admitted that his height gave him an advantage if he avoided getting dragged into reckless exchanges.

Why Is Ben Johnston So Tall for Middleweight?

At around 6-foot-4, Johnston is a notably tall middleweight.

That height can create significant problems for opponents.

Long-range kicks become more dangerous.

Knees become easier to find.

Additionally, opponents often have to travel farther to enter punching range.

Johnston himself has discussed using his height intelligently rather than abandoning the advantage by standing in close-range exchanges.

How Did City Kickboxing Change Ben Johnston’s Fighting Style?

City Kickboxing helped Johnston make the transition from a traditional Muay Thai striker into an MMA striker.

One of the biggest differences involved distance.

Johnston recalled Eugene Bareman repeatedly telling him that he was standing too close.

Traditional Muay Thai pad work often happens at a different range.

However, MMA adds takedowns, cage movement and different striking rhythms.

Bareman’s coaching forced Johnston to rethink where he stood and how he entered exchanges.

That adjustment became a major part of Johnston’s MMA development.

Does Ben Johnston Train at City Kickboxing?

Yes.

Johnston has spent significant time training with City Kickboxing in New Zealand.

He has described flying back and forth between Australia and New Zealand while remaining based at The Fight Centre.

That relationship exposed Johnston to an elite MMA room that included fighters such as Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Carlos Ulberg and other high-level athletes.

The experience influenced both his fighting and his coaching.

Who Is Ben Johnston’s Head Coach?

Johnston lists Eugene Bareman as his head coach.

Bareman is best known for his work at City Kickboxing.

The relationship helped Johnston refine the tactical differences between Muay Thai and MMA striking.

More importantly, Johnston also studied how Bareman built a successful team culture.

He later tried to bring some of those lessons back to The Fight Centre in Brisbane.

Who Is Daniel Bell?

Daniel Bell is another important coach in Johnston’s career.

Johnston has described Bell as his longtime Muay Thai coach.

Even after Johnston’s transition toward MMA, the two continued working together.

Their sessions could involve detailed discussions about tactics, positions and specific striking ideas.

Johnston valued Bell’s willingness to break down those details rather than simply running a standard pad session.

Did Ben Johnston Help Israel Adesanya Prepare for Alex Pereira?

Yes.

Johnston was brought into camp to help Israel Adesanya prepare for Alex Pereira.

Because of Johnston’s size, high-level Muay Thai experience and striking style, he could help replicate some of the challenges Pereira presented.

The Australian MMA interview describing Johnston’s background specifically noted that he was used to emulate Pereira before Adesanya’s rematch victory.

That experience placed Johnston inside one of the highest-level striking camps in MMA.

Is Ben Johnston Friends With Israel Adesanya?

Johnston has developed a strong connection with members of City Kickboxing, including Adesanya.

His interviews describe personal experiences with the team beyond simple sparring sessions.

For example, Adesanya once took Johnston and another fighter to an Andrew Schulz comedy show.

Johnston spoke positively about the experience and thanked Adesanya for bringing him along.

That reflects the wider relationship between Johnston and the CKB team.

What Did Ben Johnston Learn From Eugene Bareman?

Technique was only part of it.

Johnston also studied team culture.

He was impressed by how committed City Kickboxing’s athletes were.

Everyone appeared fully invested in the same goal.

Furthermore, Johnston admired Bareman’s ability to lead without becoming an overbearing or authoritarian figure.

That environment inspired Johnston to build something similar at The Fight Centre.

What Is The Fight Centre?

The Fight Centre is Johnston’s gym in Brisbane, Australia.

It became the central base for his life as both a fighter and coach.

Johnston has described himself as more of a team captain than a traditional coach when working with the professional MMA team.

Rather than standing outside every drill, he often trains alongside his fighters.

That allows him to test the same techniques and conditioning he asks them to perform.

Is Ben Johnston a Gym Owner?

Yes.

Johnston is closely associated with running The Fight Centre in Brisbane.

The gym became increasingly important as his active fighting career slowed.

When he retired, coaching moved even further toward the center of his life.

Eventually, Johnston had built a serious professional team around him.

Then the UFC unexpectedly pulled him back into competition.

What Is Ben Johnston Like as a Coach?

Hands-on.

Johnston prefers to train alongside his athletes when possible.

He believes doing difficult sessions with his fighters gives him more credibility when asking them to push through hard work.

Instead of simply shouting instructions from the side, Johnston likes to test techniques himself.

That approach also helps him understand whether tactical ideas actually work under resistance.

Who Does Ben Johnston Coach?

Johnston has worked with several Australian fighters through The Fight Centre.

Names discussed publicly include:

• Chelsea Hackett
• Darcy Vendy
• Nathaniel Law
• Diego Pereira
• Sam Dobb
• Nick Keou
• Amateur fighters across MMA, boxing and Muay Thai

His gym includes athletes competing at different levels.

Therefore, Johnston’s work now extends far beyond his own career.

Does Ben Johnston Coach Chelsea Hackett?

Yes.

Johnston has worked closely with Chelsea Hackett, who competes professionally and has fought in the PFL.

When Johnston unexpectedly received his own UFC opportunity, one concern was making sure Hackett’s preparation remained properly supported.

Because Eugene Bareman was already expected to be around her event, Johnston felt comfortable knowing she would still have elite coaching available.

That situation showed how seriously Johnston takes his responsibilities as a coach.

Who Is Darcy Vendy?

Darcy Vendy is one of Johnston’s fighters and a major part of the story behind Johnston’s UFC opportunity.

Vendy had become one of Australia’s most highly regarded unsigned prospects.

Then an injury disrupted his own UFC opportunity.

Because the promotion needed another middleweight, Johnston suddenly became part of the conversation.

In other words, the coach ended up receiving the opportunity that initially appeared connected to one of his own athletes.

Did Ben Johnston Get the UFC Opportunity Because Darcy Vendy Was Injured?

That is how Johnston explained the situation.

He made it clear that Vendy deserved his own opportunity.

However, Vendy was injured and unable to compete.

The UFC still needed a middleweight.

Johnston had previously been on the promotion’s radar, remained qualified and was available.

That combination opened the door.

Johnston viewed the situation as bittersweet because Vendy had worked hard for the same moment.

How Did Darcy Vendy React to Ben Johnston Getting the UFC Call?

Very positively.

Johnston initially worried about how the situation would feel for Vendy.

Instead, Vendy was delighted for his coach.

According to Johnston, Vendy told him that this was the way it was meant to happen.

That reaction helped turn an awkward situation into a remarkable team story.

Was Ben Johnston Retired Before Joining the UFC?

Yes.

Johnston had retired from active competition after winning and later vacating the Eternal MMA middleweight title.

He did not lose the championship in the cage.

Instead, he moved toward coaching and other parts of life.

However, Johnston always left one exception.

If the UFC called, he would listen.

Roughly two years later, it happened.

Why Did Ben Johnston Retire?

Age and priorities were becoming more important.

Johnston had already spent years competing in combat sports.

Meanwhile, coaching responsibilities were growing.

He also wanted a family.

Therefore, continuing to take regional fights simply for the sake of fighting became less appealing.

Johnston had previously said that future opportunities needed to be meaningful enough to justify putting other parts of life on hold.

The UFC clearly met that standard.

Was Ben Johnston Only Willing to Return for the UFC?

For much of that stage of his career, yes.

Johnston had publicly talked about the possibility of being essentially “UFC or nothing.”

He still believed he belonged at that level.

At the same time, he understood that the window for active competition was closing.

Therefore, another normal regional fight did not carry the same appeal.

The UFC remained the opportunity worth changing everything for.

Was Ben Johnston an Eternal MMA Champion?

Yes.

Johnston became the Eternal MMA middleweight champion.

He won the title by submitting John-Martin Fraser with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

That championship represented one of the biggest achievements of his MMA career before the UFC.

Later, Johnston vacated the belt when he stepped away from active competition.

He retired as champion rather than losing the title.

Why Was Winning the Eternal MMA Belt Important?

Johnston had already built a long combat sports career.

However, becoming Eternal champion gave him another major MMA credential.

The promotion is one of Australia’s most important platforms for developing UFC-level talent.

Therefore, winning the middleweight championship strengthened Johnston’s belief that he could compete at the next level.

Unfortunately, the UFC opportunity still did not immediately arrive.

That delay contributed to his eventual retirement.

How Long Had Ben Johnston Chased the UFC?

For years.

Johnston had openly campaigned for the opportunity while competing on the Australian scene.

He believed he was capable of competing with UFC-level athletes.

However, despite his striking credentials, MMA success and City Kickboxing connections, the contract never arrived during what looked like the obvious part of his career.

Then, after retirement, it finally did.

That timing is what makes his story so unusual.

How Old Was Ben Johnston When He Joined the UFC?

He was 35 years old when his opportunity arrived.

More unusually, Johnston had been retired for roughly two years.

Therefore, the UFC was not signing a young prospect coming off a rapid winning streak.

Instead, the promotion called an experienced fighter and coach who believed his active career was largely behind him.

Was Ben Johnston Still Training While Retired?

Yes, but not like an active fighter.

Because Johnston remained a coach, he never completely left martial arts.

He still wrestled, grappled and trained with his team.

However, his own structured fight preparation had disappeared.

For example, he admitted that he had not been doing nearly as much striking.

Therefore, returning to UFC-level camp required his body to adjust quickly.

How Hard Was It for Ben Johnston to Come Out of Retirement?

Very difficult physically.

Johnston had remained active as a coach.

Still, coaching and preparing to fight in the UFC are completely different.

Once the call arrived, he suddenly had to rebuild his training volume.

Johnston explained that he could not simply jump into four or five hours of hard training every day.

Doing so would have created a high injury risk.

Instead, every session needed to be deliberate and carefully managed.

Did Ben Johnston Lose Skills During Retirement?

Some timing had faded.

Johnston admitted that his first sparring sessions back felt different.

His defensive reactions and eyes needed to readjust.

However, other parts of his game had actually improved through coaching and grappling.

More importantly, Johnston said the comeback progressed rapidly week by week.

Therefore, he did not view himself as simply trying to recover an old version of his game.

Did Ben Johnston Get Married Before His UFC Call?

Yes.

Johnston’s personal life changed dramatically around the same period.

He had recently gotten married.

At the same time, he and his wife were expecting a child.

Then the UFC opportunity arrived.

The Australian MMA interview described the wedding, baby announcement and UFC call as major life events happening within a very short period.

That timing made the return even more remarkable.

Does Ben Johnston Have Children?

Johnston and his wife were expecting a baby around the time he received his UFC opportunity.

For years, he had talked about eventually becoming a father and wondered how he would balance children with the enormous amount of time he spent coaching.

Then family life and the biggest fighting opportunity of his career arrived almost simultaneously.

Why Was Ben Johnston’s UFC Opportunity So Emotional?

Because the call arrived after he had begun moving on.

Johnston had already done the difficult work of accepting that the UFC dream might never happen.

He won a major regional title.

Then he retired.

Coaching became the priority.

Marriage and fatherhood created a different future.

Suddenly, the old dream came back.

That changed the meaning of the opportunity.

It was not simply another promotion signing him.

It was something Johnston had wanted for years arriving after he had largely stopped expecting it.

What Did Ben Johnston Think About Finally Making the UFC Walk?

Even with extensive Muay Thai experience, he admitted that the feeling would be difficult to predict.

Johnston had competed in major fights before.

However, he said there was nothing truly comparable to finally making the UFC walk after everything that had happened.

The moment represented far more than one additional fight.

It was the completion of an old goal.

What Happened in Ben Johnston’s UFC Debut?

Johnston made his UFC debut against Wesley Schultz on May 2, 2026.

The fight took place at UFC Perth.

Johnston reached the third round.

However, Schultz eventually secured a guillotine choke.

The fight ended at 1:50 of Round 3, giving Johnston the second loss of his professional MMA career.

Did Ben Johnston Win His UFC Debut?

No.

Wesley Schultz submitted Johnston with a guillotine choke in the third round.

The defeat moved Johnston’s professional MMA record to 5-2.

Still, simply reaching the Octagon carried unusual significance because of the circumstances surrounding his return.

Johnston had gone from retired coach to UFC fighter in a matter of weeks.

What Is Ben Johnston’s MMA Record?

Johnston’s professional MMA record is 5-2.

His five victories include:

• Four submissions
• One TKO

Both professional losses came by stoppage.

One came by strikes.

The other came by submission.

Why Are Most of Ben Johnston’s Wins Submissions If He Is a Muay Thai Champion?

Because Johnston developed into a genuinely complete mixed martial artist.

His striking credentials often force opponents to respect the stand-up game.

That can create grappling opportunities.

Furthermore, years of jiu-jitsu training gave him the ability to capitalize once he takes the back.

The rear-naked choke became particularly successful.

Therefore, his Muay Thai reputation may actually help create some of his grappling opportunities.

Does Ben Johnston Prefer Fighting Unknown Opponents?

In some ways, yes.

After one Eternal MMA victory, Johnston discussed fighting an opponent with limited footage available.

Rather than viewing the lack of information as a disadvantage, he found it freeing.

Too much footage can encourage a fighter to obsess over everything an opponent might do.

With less information, Johnston could concentrate more heavily on his own strategy.

That mindset reflects his analytical approach to competition.

How Does Ben Johnston Deal With Opponents Trying to Draw Him Into a Brawl?

Patience.

His Muay Thai instincts naturally make him willing to exchange.

However, Johnston understands that abandoning his range can remove one of his biggest advantages.

During one first-round knockout victory, his corner reminded him not to become emotionally drawn into a reckless exchange.

Johnston listened.

Then he waited for the better opportunity and produced the finish.

What Does Ben Johnston Love About Fighting?

The moment.

After one victory, Johnston spoke about hearing the crowd during his walkout and being unable to stop smiling.

He described that feeling as exactly what he lived for.

The crowd.

The walk.

Then doing something he genuinely loved.

That enjoyment explains why stepping away from competition was complicated even when his priorities changed.

Why Does Ben Johnston Stand Out?

Ben Johnston stands out because his UFC story happened in the wrong order.

Normally, a fighter wins a regional title.

Then the UFC calls.

Johnston won the title.

The call did not come.

So he retired.

Then he became an even more serious coach.

His attention shifted toward athletes such as Chelsea Hackett and Darcy Vendy.

Marriage followed.

A baby was on the way.

The old dream appeared to be finished.

Then one of his own fighters became unavailable for a UFC opportunity.

Suddenly, Johnston’s phone rang.

At 35, after roughly two years away from active competition, the former Eternal MMA champion was being asked to return.

That alone would make the story unusual.

However, Johnston’s background adds even more.

He was already a Muay Thai world champion.

He had trained at City Kickboxing.

Eugene Bareman helped transform him from a traditional Muay Thai striker into an MMA striker.

Johnston even helped Israel Adesanya prepare for Alex Pereira.

Then his own MMA career produced four submission victories, proving that the world-class striker had become much more than a stand-up specialist.

Through all of it, The Fight Centre grew around him.

The fighter became the coach.

Eventually, the coach became a UFC fighter.

That is what makes Ben Johnston’s career different.

The UFC opportunity did not arrive before he built another life.

It arrived after he had already started one.

Ben Johnston Career Update

Johnston competes in the UFC middleweight division with a professional MMA record of 5-2.

His victories include one knockout and four submissions, with three of his wins ending in the first round.

Before joining the UFC, Johnston became the Eternal MMA middleweight champion and later vacated the title when he retired from competition.

After roughly two years away from active MMA, Johnston received a short-notice opportunity to join the UFC at 35.

He made his UFC debut against Wesley Schultz on May 2, 2026, in Perth, Australia.

Schultz won by third-round guillotine choke.

Ben Johnston FAQs

Who is Ben Johnston?

Ben Johnston is an Australian UFC middleweight, Muay Thai world champion, former Eternal MMA champion and coach at The Fight Centre in Brisbane.

What is Ben Johnston’s full name?

His full name is Benjamin Johnston.

Does Ben Johnston have a nickname?

He does not currently have an official UFC nickname. During his Muay Thai career, however, he was known as “The Blade” or “Benny the Blade.”

When was Ben Johnston born?

Johnston was born on October 11, 1990.

Where is Ben Johnston from?

He is from Australia and fights out of Queensland.

How tall is Ben Johnston?

Johnston is listed at 6-foot-4, or approximately 192 to 193 cm.

What is Ben Johnston’s reach?

His listed reach is approximately 75.6 inches, or 192 cm.

What weight class does Ben Johnston fight in?

He competes in the UFC middleweight division.

What is Ben Johnston’s fighting style?

Johnston’s foundation is Muay Thai, although he has developed a strong MMA grappling game and has four professional submission victories.

Was Ben Johnston a Muay Thai world champion?

Yes. Johnston is a WBC Muay Thai world champion.

Where does Ben Johnston train?

He represents The Fight Centre in Brisbane and has also trained extensively with City Kickboxing in New Zealand.

Who is Ben Johnston’s head coach?

His listed head coach is Eugene Bareman.

Who is Daniel Bell?

Daniel Bell is Johnston’s longtime Muay Thai coach and remains an important part of his striking development.

Does Ben Johnston train with City Kickboxing?

Yes. Johnston has trained with City Kickboxing and has spoken about how the team influenced both his MMA striking and coaching philosophy.

Did Ben Johnston help Israel Adesanya prepare for Alex Pereira?

Yes. Johnston was brought into camp to help emulate Pereira during Adesanya’s preparation.

Is Ben Johnston a coach?

Yes. Johnston is heavily involved in coaching at The Fight Centre.

Who does Ben Johnston coach?

His publicly discussed fighters include Chelsea Hackett, Darcy Vendy and several other professional and amateur athletes.

Was Ben Johnston an Eternal MMA champion?

Yes. Johnston became the Eternal MMA middleweight champion before retiring and vacating the belt.

Why did Ben Johnston retire?

Johnston’s priorities were shifting toward coaching, family and life outside competition. However, he left the door open for a UFC opportunity.

How long was Ben Johnston retired before joining the UFC?

He had been away from active competition for roughly two years when the UFC opportunity arrived.

Why did Ben Johnston come out of retirement?

The UFC finally offered him the opportunity he had spent years chasing.

What did Darcy Vendy have to do with Ben Johnston’s UFC opportunity?

Vendy was unavailable because of injury, and the UFC needed another middleweight. Johnston had previously been on the promotion’s radar and became the replacement option.

Was Darcy Vendy upset that Ben Johnston received the opportunity?

No. Johnston said Vendy was extremely happy for him and told him that it was the way the situation was meant to happen.

Is Ben Johnston married?

Yes. Johnston had recently gotten married around the period when his UFC opportunity arrived.

Does Ben Johnston have children?

Johnston and his wife were expecting a baby around the time of his UFC call-up.

Who did Ben Johnston fight in his UFC debut?

He faced Wesley Schultz at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026.

Did Ben Johnston win his UFC debut?

No. Schultz submitted Johnston with a guillotine choke in the third round.

How many submission wins does Ben Johnston have?

Johnston has four professional submission victories.

What submission does Ben Johnston use most often?

All four of his professional submission wins have come by rear-naked choke.

What is Ben Johnston’s MMA record?

His professional MMA record is 5-2.

What is Ben Johnston’s Instagram?

Ben Johnston’s Instagram is @benjohnston_tfc.