It’s really the tip of an period in combined martial arts as Demetrious Johnson introduced his retirement from the game through the ONE 168 card in Denver, Colorado.
Johnson final competed for the promotion in Could 2023, defeating Adriano Moraes within the first trilogy bout of his profession to retain the ONE flyweight MMA world championship. Returning to the identical venue in Denver, Colorado, an emotional ‘Mighty Mouse’ introduced to the world he was formally laying down his four-ounce gloves and forsaking the game he dominated for almost 20 years.
“Like I mentioned final time after I got here to Denver, Colo., I instructed you guys it was probably my final struggle, and I used to be not mendacity. I’m carried out. I’m carried out competing in combined martial arts, and I wish to thanks guys a lot for giving me the chance,” Johnson instructed the gang.
In September 2012, Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez to turn into the UFC’s first-ever flyweight world champion. He went on to defend the title an astonishing 11 consecutive instances, a report that has by no means and will very properly by no means be damaged contained in the Octagon. Alongside the way in which, he earned wins over John Dodson, Kyoji Horiguchi, Henry Cejudo, Tim Elliott, and Ray Borg.
Demetrious Johnson continued his flyweight dominance in oNE Championship
In 2018, Johnson made historical past as soon as once more, changing into the primary fighter to ever be traded to a different promotion. Mighty Mouse’ was dealt to ONE Championship in trade for former ONE and Bellator titleholder Ben Askren.
Johnson instantly made waves within the Singapore-based promotion, scoring three straight wins to turn into the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix champion and punching his ticket to a title tilt with Adriano Moraes.
Johnson and Moraes would sq. off 3 times over the subsequent two years with ‘DJ’ popping out prime within the latter two to each win and retain the flyweight MMA crown. In between these fights, Johnson additionally competed in ONE Championship’s first-ever mixed-rules matchup in opposition to ‘The Iron Man’ Rodtang Jitmuangon.
Johnson gained the bout within the second spherical through rear-naked choke after surviving a gap spherical contested below Muay Thai guidelines.
Earlier than leaving the cage on Friday evening, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong introduced that ‘Mighty Mouse’ can be the first-ever inductee into the ONE Championship Corridor of Fame.
Johnson left with each his HoF statue and the flyweight title he was instructed to go away behind.
“They needed me to go away the belt in right here, I ain’t doing that sh*t. I got here into this sport as a champ, I’m leaving my black ass as a champ too,” Johnson mentioned.
