DEMETRIOUS “Mighty Mouse” Johnson has walked away from the sport that he ruled for nearly two decades satisfied knowing that he built an unshakeable legacy, all while being healthy enough to enjoy everything he’s fought for.
Johnson announced his retirement in a highly emotional speech at ONE 168: Denver this past Saturday, September 7, marking the end of what has been a revolutionary career – one that focused on the lighter MMA divisions.
He retires as the reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion, a ONE Flyweight MMA World Grand Prix Champion, a 12-time UFC World Champion, and the first-ever inductee to the ONE Hall of Fame, as announced by ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong during Johnson’s retirement speech.
"I just wanna enjoy what I’ve done and walk away. And I talked to a lot of guys, GSP [George St. Pierre] was another one. He was like, ‘Dude, there’s always another guy [to fight].’ That’s why he retired,” Johnson said.
“Urijah Faber, he was like, ‘Dude, we only get a short amount of time in our life where we could be a professional athlete and fight at the highest level.’ So, it is pretty hard, but I am relieved to be able to say I’m finally done.”
Johnson, though, isn’t closing the door on a return to ONE Championship. He is now focusing on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – though he feels he’s not ready to compete at a high-level in no-gi competition inside the Circle just yet.
“I’m still gonna compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hopefully one day if my no-gi game gets good enough, maybe in the Circle, we’ll see,” he said.
Johnson forced himself not to fight, even marking it as his new year’s resolution just to see if he can last without MMA competition.
The answer, sadly for MMA fans, was yes.
“I was sitting at home, I was like, ‘I don’t miss it.’ It’s a young man’s game. I’m 38 years old. I’m spending time with my kids, my wife, and I just knew that this was the right time to do it,” he said.
That said, he believes it’s time for the flyweight division to move on and name a new king. And it comes at just the right time. Adriano Moraes – the man who handed Johnson the first and only stoppage loss of his career – takes on longtime contender Danny “The King” Kingad at ONE 169: Atlanta in November.
“I’m happy that now the flyweight division can move on. Chatri, the matchmakers, can start putting together a flyweight championship,” he said.
“Adriano and I think Danny Kingad are fighting next. So they can move on.”
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