The latest UFC rumors may speculate around the retirement of MMA legend Demetrious Johnson.
Still, once the gloves are hung up for good, the current ONE FC flyweight and former UFC champion yearns for a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
On May 5, ‘Mighty Mouse’ stepped into the cage for his 30 th career pro bout. He defeated former
eight-time titleholder Adriano Moraes in a second successive meeting and retained the crown versus the man he took it from in spectacular fashion.
As expected, the trilogy bout was electric, and with a 2-1 lead over Moraes, bragging rights have been secured. More importantly, last weekend, the ONE FC event in Broomfield, Colorado, could’ve been the last time we see Johnson as an active MMA competitor.
Demetrious Johnson MMA Retirement
He didn’t leave his gloves in the center of the cage, nor did he confirm retirement following the ONE
on Prime Video 1 event. However, speculation surrounding his retirement has been a hot topic of conversation since he discussed it with Joe Rogan.
DJ was on Boston native Joe Rogan’s podcast talking about when he might retire. Until then, New
England area fans can get in on the action at WynnBET Massachusetts when DJ fights. Furthermore,
while the wagering action may eventually stop for MMA enthusiasts, Johnson’s hint at turning to
full-time grappling could see him enter as a regular fighter to wager on at BJJ events. And with a 25-4-1 pro-MMA record,DJ has always been a combat sports competitor you can rely on at the sportsbooks.
Prior to his recent title defense, the MMA maestro flirted with immediate retirement no matter
what the result against his Brazilian foe would be. He hasn’t solidified anything yet, but the man with
the most successful title defenses under the UFC banner claimed he’s planning to discuss his future with George St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“Talking to my peers, talking to Uriah Faber – I’m going to reach out to [Georges St-Pierre], I’m going
to reach out to Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Johnson told journalists at the ONE Fight Night pre-fight
presser. “I’m going to talk to these guys. I’m like, ‘Why did you guys stop?”’
“Those guys could have kept on fighting, and there comes a point in time – I’m 36-years-old, and do I
just keep on doing this and giving other athletes the opportunity to beat me and add to their legacy?” Johnson asked. “There’s a lot of stuff I’ve got mustered up.”
Mighty Mouse and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Retirement from professional mixed martial arts doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t see DJ actively
compete in combat sports, as Brazilian jiu-jitsu could be his future. ‘Mighty Mouse’ recently spoke to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, revealing one of his bucket list items is to earn a black belt in BJJ.
“Life’s too short not to explore different avenues, and it’s something that I want to do,” Johnson
explained. “It’s something I want to do. And I don’t want to do a lot of things. But that’s something I
was like, no, I want to do it. I really want to get my black belt. I’m a brown belt now.”
We do not doubt that DJ could obtain his black belt. With the heart of a champion and eight
submission victories on his pro-MMA record, he’s no slouch when it comes to grappling and undoubtedly owns multiple advantages should he pursue this goal.
Demetrious Johnson Combat Sports Accomplishments:
● ONE Flyweight Championship (One time, current, one successful defense)
● 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion
● UFC Flyweight Championship (One time, inaugural, Eleven successful title defenses)
● UFC Flyweight Championship Tournament Winner
● Most consecutive wins in UFC Flyweight division history (11)
● Most consecutive title defenses in UFC history (11)
● Most successful title defenses in UFC history (11)
● Tied with Jon Jones for the most finishes in UFC title bouts (7)
● Tied with Jon Jones for the most submission wins in UFC title fights (4)
● Most submission wins in UFC Flyweight division history (5)
● Most post-fight bonuses in UFC Flyweight division history (9)
● The second fighter in UFC history to receive bonus awards in all possible categories (Fight of
the Night, Knockout of the Night, Performance & Submission of the Night)
