Demetrious Johnson is one of those names that always come up when the topic of mixed martial arts‘ greatest of all time is mentioned. Fourteen-time Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound mixed martial artists of all time. ESPN, MMA Weekly, and various UFC personnel have called Johnson one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world.
Johnson has been referred to by many as ‘the greatest Flyweight (125 pound) Mixed Martial Arts fighter of all time’ with a record of 25 wins and 4 losses in professional MMA, and 36 wins and 4 losses including amateur and mixed rules bouts. Demetrious Johnson, on the other hand, is known for being elite in all aspects of fighting. His striking, wrestling, and submission skills are as good as anyone else who has ever stepped inside the cage.
Johnson’s meteoric rise to greatness was borne of sheer determination and hard work. He grew up in incredibly adverse circumstances, being raised by his hearing-impaired mother and an abusive stepfather. However, he never let his circumstances get the better of him. This success on the mats led him to try his hand at mixed martial arts in 2007, and it resulted in one of the most incredible careers ever seen in the sport.
Though he enjoyed great returns at bantamweight, a move to flyweight in 2012 saw Johnson really come into his own. Along with the prestigious silver Grand Prix belt, Johnson was awarded a shot at longtime ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes. That setback, however, set up the ultimate comeback. In March 2022, Johnson defeated Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a historic special rules super-fight, and five months later, he earned his redemption against Moraes.
Ready to find out why so many people say DJ is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the history of mixed martial arts?
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Key Moments in Demetrious Johnson's Career
1. Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez (UFC on Fox 9)
The first fight between these two was a technical affair that ended with Johnson emerging victorious. However, Johnson had different plans and showcased his insane punching power by knocking Benavidez out cold with a perfectly timed right hand early in the contest. The knockout couldn’t have come at a better time since some of DJ’s critics often accused him of being a point fighter who couldn’t put anyone away.
2. Demetrious Johnson vs. Adriano Moraes (ONE on Prime Video 1)
Some people questioned how good DJ was when he got knocked out by a knee to the head during his first fight against Moraes.
3. Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg (UFC 216)
Johnson had dominated all challengers for his UFC flyweight title then, and the fight played out how many fans expected it to go with DJ. DJ secured back control after an exchange as it appeared he was on his way to another decision victory, then he went for a suplex and somehow secured an armbar before both men hit the canvas.
It remains the most impressive submission ever pulled off during a mixed martial arts fight. Even BJJ aces like Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Damian Maia never pulled off any submissions that came even close.
4. Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo (UFC 197)
Henry Cejudo had a lot of hype behind him when he challenged Johnson for the flyweight title. Many expected him to be Johnson’s toughest test, given the vast disparity in their wrestling pedigree. It took Johnson a little more than two minutes to bring the Henry Cejudo hype train to an end, sending the latter to the back of the line of challengers.
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5. Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson (UFC 191)
The first fight between the two was quite competitive, with Dodson’s speed and power causing problems for Johnson early on. The rematch showed how fast Johnson was evolving as a fighter, as he put on one of the most dominant performances of his career against one of the toughest flyweights in the division. By the end of the bout, Dodson looked like he was about to pass out, while Johnson looked like he was ready for five more rounds.
DJ’s greatness isn’t defined by any moment in his career but rather by the collective of all his fights. The man even makes time to defeat giants in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in his spare time.
Career Achievements and Awards
- Won the ONE Flyweight Championship (135 lb).
- Lost the UFC Flyweight Championship.
- Broke the UFC record for the most consecutive title defenses (11).
- Performance of the Night (Four times)
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Submission of the Night (One time)
- Fight of the Night (Three times)
- 2017 Submission of the Year vs. Ray Borg
Demetrious Khrisna Johnson (born August 13, 1986) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the inaugural and former UFC Flyweight Champion (125 lbs) with a record of 11 consecutive title defenses. Johnson most recently competed in ONE Championship, where he is the former ONE Flyweight Champion (135 lb), and was the 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion.
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| ONE Flyweight Champion | Won the ONE Flyweight Championship (135 lb) |
| UFC Flyweight Champion | Former UFC Flyweight Champion (125 lbs) |
| Consecutive Title Defenses | Broke the UFC record for the most consecutive title defenses (11) |
| Performance Bonuses | Performance of the Night (Four times) |
| Knockout Bonus | Knockout of the Night (One time) |
| Submission Bonus | Submission of the Night (One time) |
| Fight Bonus | Fight of the Night (Three times) |
| Submission of the Year | 2017 Submission of the Year vs. Ray Borg |
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