It’s really the tip of an period in blended martial arts as Demetrious Johnson introduced his retirement from the game in the course of the ONE 168 card in Denver, Colorado.
Johnson final competed for the promotion in Could 2023, defeating Adriano Moraes in the first trilogy bout of his career 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 abandoning the game he dominated for practically twenty years.
“Like I mentioned final time once I got here to Denver, Colo., I advised you guys it was probably my final battle, and I used to be not mendacity. I’m carried out. I’m carried out competing in blended martial arts, and I need to thanks guys a lot for giving me the chance,” Johnson advised the group.
In September 2012, Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez to change into the UFC’s first-ever flyweight world champion. He went on to defend the title an astonishing 11 consecutive instances, a document that has by no means and should very effectively by no means be damaged contained in the Octagon. Alongside the best way, 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, turning into the first fighter to ever be traded to another promotion. Mighty Mouse’ was dealt to ONE Championship in change for former ONE and Bellator titleholder Ben Askren.
Johnson instantly made waves within the Singapore-based promotion, scoring three straight wins to change 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 thrice 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 received the bout within the second spherical by way of rear-naked choke after surviving a gap spherical contested beneath Muay Thai guidelines.
Earlier than leaving the cage on Friday night time, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong introduced that ‘Mighty Mouse’ could 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 advised to go away behind.
“They wished 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.
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