Following his triumphant title defense at ONE Championship in May, Demetrious Johnson left the combat sports community in great anticipation.
Johnson, a renowned MMA icon and one of the UFC’s most accomplished champions, disclosed his contemplation of retiring from the world of mixed martial arts following his dominant unanimous decision victory against Adriano Moraes at ONE Fight Night 10.
‘Mighty Mouse’: In His Own Words
Three months have passed since his most recent victory in ONE Championship, and not much has changed since his initial comments that hinted at retirement. However, Johnson has now revealed that he is very open to returning under the right circumstances.
“It’s something I must be passionate about,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to do it just to do it. And for me, we just haven’t decided what’s next. Obviously, I’ve been busy with jiu-jitsu, and that’s been driving me in training, but other than that, there’s nothing set in stone.”
The Kentucky native mentioned that he has not yet spoken to ONE Championship about his career status, but he anticipates that discussions will begin in the upcoming months. Currently, Johnson is the reigning flyweight champion in ONE Championship. Since he departed from the UFC in a notable trade for former welterweight champion Ben Askren at the end of 2018, he has achieved a record of 5-1.
Whatever Johnson decides, he’ll have the full support of Bluegrass State residents, as he’s the most accomplished fighter in the region’s combat sports history. Whether it’s MMA, boxing, or jiu-jitsu that he finishes his career competing in, Kentucky betting sites will be flooded with locals supporting the pound-for-pound legend.
At 37 years-old, Johnson is regarded as the greatest flyweight in MMA history. He also holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses in the UFC, with a total of 11, thus making him an adored competitor by fans, critics, fight promotions, and sports bettors alike.
Demetrious Johnson: Next up, Competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Demetrious Johnson, widely recognized as the greatest fighter in the history of the UFC’s flyweight division, will embark on a new athletic endeavor by competing in the 2023 IBJJF Masters World Championships wearing a traditional gi.
The IBJJF Masters World Championships is a highly esteemed jiu jitsu tournament tailored to individuals aged 30 and above, featuring a highly competitive field of skilled participants. The upcoming event, scheduled for August 31 to September 2 in Las Vegas, has already received confirmation of Johnson’s participation.
At 37, Johnson enrolled in the Masters 2 division (35 years and above) at the brown belt level. He will proudly represent his longtime team, AMC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, under the guidance of the esteemed instructor Matt Hume.
Johnson, the former UFC champion at 125 lbs and ONE champion at 135lbs, will not be required to undergo weight cutting for this jiu jitsu competition. Instead, he will be competing at 154lbs.
Currently, there are 37 members registered in his division, indicating that he will need multiple victories to secure a medal. It is important to mention that ONE Championship also includes grappling matches in their events. However, Johnson has decided to invest in participating in this significant BJJ event.
Fighting a 110kg Bodybuilder?
In May, Bradley Martyn stirred controversy with his bold declaration that he would physically overpower Devin Haney in a street altercation.
The YouTuber lacks a professional fighting background but believes his weight would give him an advantage in an unrestricted fight against the considerably smaller boxer.
More recently, he engaged in banter with Brendan Schaub regarding the identical topic; then, the former UFC heavyweight contender asserted that ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson would prevail in a physical altercation against him. Unfamiliar with the ex-UFC flyweight champion, Martyn asserted with assurance as Schaub chuckled, “I’m going to crush his head on the floor.”
Johnson is considering a potential matchup with Martyn, the American bodybuilder weighing 260 pounds, who has publicly claimed on social media that he would defeat Johnson in a street fight.
Days after Martyn’s discussion with Schaub, the two continued the conversation. The former UFC fighter disclosed that he had spoken with Johnson about this potential face-off, and Johnson subsequently consented. Demetrious further reinforced his intentions by posting a message on social media directly to Martyn, stating, “I will see you shortly.”
