This article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
This biography of a living personneeds additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. Find sources: – ···scholar·JSTOR(August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations.(August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
(Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Brian Johnston (born July 28, 1968) is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who competed throughout the mid 1990s, most notably in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His effective mix of precision striking and ground fighting, as seen with other fighters such as Marco Ruas, would set the standard for what are now common traits in modern-day fighting styles. Johnston holds a black belt in Judo and was a former Golden Gloves champion.
Brian suffered a massive stroke in August 2001 while in Japan prior to a fight, at 32 years of age and 3 weeks after his wedding.[1]
Initially trained by Brad Rheingans. He made his pro wrestling debut in 1997, losing to Naoya Ogawa at NJPW G1 Climax Special 1997.[2][3] Throughout his whole career Johnston was used as a tag team wrestler, teaming with such names like Don Frye, Osamu Kido, Tadao Yasuda, Dave Beneteau, and Kazuyuki Fujita. He had a notable appearance at the 1999 G1 Tag League, teaming with Takashi Iizuka.[4] After a massive stroke, he was forced to retire in 2001.[5] Johnston would train several team mates to impressive MMA victories, over notables such as Mark Kerr, (K1 fighter), ,MMA fighters Ryan Gracie and Ken Shamrock.