The Mighty Mouse: A Look Back Into Demetrious Johnson’s Legendary Fighting Career

After asserting his retirement from MMA final September, many struggle followers and co-fighters have proven their praises and appreciation for DJ’s legendary profession. For the uninitiated, Demetrious Johnson is broadly thought-about as one, if not the best, pound-for-pound blended martial artist ever. With a powerful legacy behind in his 14-year skilled MMA profession, he has turn out to be a dominant champion in two of probably the most outstanding blended martial arts promotions right now. On this article, we’ll look again at DJ’s one-of-a-kind MMA preventing profession.

Demetrious “The Mighty Mouse” Johnson

Demetrious Johnson is a fourteen-time world champion and is taken into account by many to be one of many MMA GOATs. After competing within the UFC for practically a decade and dominating his division as an undefeated champion for five years, he delivered his abilities on ONE’s international stage. He continued his domination, tallying a complete of 25 wins all through his profession.

With an athletic background, rising up within the sport of wrestling and observe and subject, DJ rapidly tailored to the struggle recreation, additional enhancing his abilities and instantly turning into a prospect. He began his profession competing in promotions resembling KOTC, AFC, and WEC, which had been a number of the most prestigious MMA promotions in america again then.

Reign As UFC Champion

DJ is thought to be one of the best flyweight champion within the UFC and holds the second most title defenses within the promotion (11). He started his reign in 2012 after beating Joseph Benavidez, which he beat once more a 12 months later, protecting Benavidez away from the flyweight strap. All through his reign because the champion, he has crushed the powerful listing of challengers in Ali Bagautinov, Tim Eliott, John Dodson (twice), and Henry Cejudo, to call a number of.

Whereas some might query the extent of DJ’s competitors as a result of there have been no former champions on the listing, it’s as a result of the flyweight division was new to the promotion then. Which means that DJ is the primary flyweight champion within the UFC and no prior flyweight champion has come earlier than him, making his achievement extra commendable. In his time, he has reigned because the UFC champion for two,142 days.

Maybe considered one of DJ’s most memorable moments in his preventing profession was when he carried out a artistic show of grappling. His legendary Suplex to Armbar in opposition to Ray Borg is just poetry in movement.

DJ’s final match within the UFC was a rematch in opposition to Henry Cejudo. After an 11-consecutive title protection, he misplaced in a tightly contested match that might have gone both method in opposition to one other extremely expert fighter and former Olympic wrestling gold medalist, Henry Cejudo.

Transfer To ONE Championship

DJ started the brand new daybreak of his profession in ONE Championship after getting traded for Ben Askren in 2018. Upon arriving at ONE, DJ was instantly welcomed with a tricky problem: competing within the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, as one of many eight fighters.

All through the match, DJ confronted Yuya Wakamatsu (submitted through guillotine), Tatsumitsu Wada (through UD), and Danny Kingad (through UD). After three consecutive wins, DJ claimed gold and have become the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix World Champion after beating the Filipino phenom Danny Kingad within the finals.

After two years, DJ grew to become the following challenger of the One Flyweight throne beneath Andriano Moraes, with whom he met thrice, and DJ led the trilogy.

Of their first struggle, after a stuffed takedown try as DJ tried to wrestle up from the bottom, he was greeted by a knee to the top, which led to a barrage of floor and pound that ended the struggle. Nonetheless, in different promotions, it’s thought-about unlawful to knee a downed opponent to the top.

DJ rapidly adjusted to his mistake, and of their second assembly, he proved himself worthy of being known as probably the greatest blended martial artists of all time. DJ avenged his first loss to Adriano with the identical strike (a knee to the face), however this time, with a flying knee that instantly knocked out Adriano.

To settle their rating as soon as and for all, DJ efficiently defended his belt by showcasing his well-rounded ability set with the assistance of his unimaginable clinch recreation. Of their final assembly, DJ confirmed his progress within the sport of MMA, proving the evolution of blended martial arts, which is to turn out to be a superb fighter in each side.

DJ’s trilogy struggle with Adriano Moraes was his final struggle in ONE Championship, leaving the game on the prime and as a world champion.

Tremendous-Combat in opposition to Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE X

DJ has at all times been an thrilling fighter for the struggle followers. As proof, he agreed to a particular guidelines struggle in opposition to Rodtang Jitmuangon, probably the greatest pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter at the moment. Rodtang, who was at all times up for challenges, gladly accepted the particular guidelines match.

The showdown occurred beneath particular guidelines, with the primary and third rounds following Muay Thai guidelines, whereas the second and fourth rounds had been contested beneath MMA guidelines. DJ fought by way of the primary spherical and submitted Rodtang within the second spherical through rear-naked choke (RNC).

Life After Preventing

Preventing is basically in DJ’s DNA, and he thrives and enjoys it. As of late, DJ will be seen competing in Gi BJJ and having fun with the grind, ultimately resulting in his promotion to black belt. He made his Gi BJJ debut as a brown belt in 2023 , the place he gained gold in his first GI competitors within the IBJJF World Championships Masters division.

In search of the following mountain to overcome, DJ additionally competed within the open-weight division, beating an opponent method heavier than him. This highlighted his distinctive struggle IQ and his high-level abilities on the earth of fight sports activities.

Conclusion

Whereas DJ has formally declared his retirement, he has additionally cemented himself as one of many prime blended martial arts fighters in historical past. His legacy embodies the evolution of MMA, exhibiting that constant evolution is a superb ability no matter weight class. With all his accomplishments on the earth of fight sports activities, it’s undoubtedly that he stays one of many GOATs for true struggle followers.