Johnson next faced Mike Guymon on January 22, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 23. He won the fight via verbal submission in the first round after applying a body triangle.
Johnson faced Amir Sadollah on March 26, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 24, replacing an injured James Wilks on just two weeks notice. 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 face Clay Harvison on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25 However, Johnson was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Seth Baczynski.
Johnson/Harvison took place on November 12, 2011 at UFC on Fox 1. Johnson won the fight via first-round KO after hitting Harvison with an uppercut that knocked him down and seemingly unconscious.