Demetrious Johnson’s Reign: Mighty Mouse’s Record-Breaking Title Run.

The time when Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse Johnson’ ruled the cage as the UFC Flyweight Champion is arguably the best and most meaningful period in the history of mixed martial arts, or MMA. Johnson’s skill, speed, technique, and fight IQ made him one of the best fighters in history. This shows his dominance of the title run and his superiority in the sport for such a long time. This essay is aimed at describing the process of Johnson’s rise to the top, his outstanding title defenses, as well as the changes he brought to the flyweight division and the world of MMA in general.

First Fight as a Professional and Journey to Flyweight Champion
Demetrious Johnson started his professional MMA career in 2006, and over the years, he has shown the world that he is an all-round talented fighter. Initially, Johnson competed in the bantamweight category, or division, and he experienced some difficulties because of his size. Nevertheless, he demonstrated his incredible athletic ability and skills in ground fighting and became a notorious, persistent, and extremely efficient wrestler.

The new division of the UFC was launched in 2011, which included the flyweight division for fighters who weighed 125 pounds or less. This new division created a perfect opportunity for Johnson to fight other fighters in the same weight class. Thus, the start of Johnson in the flyweight division can be traced back to March 2012, when he was part of the four-man tournament to determine the first UFC flyweight champion. Johnson won the title by defeating Ian McCall in the rematch and then Joseph Benavidez in the final to become the first UFC flyweight champion in September 2012.

The title Reign Begins
Johnson started his period as the flyweight champion with a very competitive fight with Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152. Johnson was fast and swift in his movements and landed quality punches to his opponent’s head to ensure that he emerged the winner of the bout in a split decision manner. This win signified the start of an unprecedented championship streak that would later define Johnson’s reign as one of the greatest heavyweight champions.

Title Defenses
John Dodson I (UFC on FOX 6)

The first significant challenge for Johnson as the champion took place at the beginning of 2013, against John Dodson. Dodson, a Thai fighter who boasted a lot of punch power and speed, had been a huge problem for him. This was an exciting fight that saw Johnson first being down, but he came back and won the fight by a unanimous decision. This bout proved Johnson’s stamina and his capacity to adjust in the middle of the bout.

Joseph Benavidez II (UFC on FOX 9).

Joseph Benavidez had the chance to avenge his previous loss to Johnson in December of 2013, and it was Johnson who dominated the fight. He knocked out Benavidez in the first round, proving that he had better striking and accuracy in this fight. This triumph shut the mouths of his detritus, who used to claim that he lacked the clinical edge to finish off his opponents, and further elevated him to the pinnacle of the division.

Kyoji Horiguchi (UFC 186)

The following fight scheduled for May 2015 was Johnson vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, a Japanese prospect. Johnson’s physical strength was able to reign supreme in the fight due to his strong wrestling and constant pressure. His latest submission was in the fifth round, when in the last few seconds he applied an armbar that made him the latest stoppage in UFC history. This victory also demonstrated Johnson’s tendency to keep a high work rate, press forward in a fight, and close out a fight strong.

Henry Cejudo I (UFC 197)

Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, presented a different kind of challenge to Johnson in April 2016. But Johnson brought a lot of skills to the cage, and Cejudo simply could not handle it. Johnson employed clinching and striking and knocked out the opponent in the first round via TKO. This fight was a reminder of Johnson’s desire to shut down top wrestlers and excel on all fronts of mixed martial arts.

Ray Borg (UFC 216)

Johnson’s last victory that made him defend his belt for the record eleventh time was against Ray Borg in October 2017. In what is considered to be one of the best submissions in the entire UFC history, Johnson performed a suplex combined with an armbar in the fifth round, and Borg had to surrender. This win was the record-breaking 13th consecutive title defense, surpassing Anderson Silva’s record in the UFC, thus establishing Johnson’s status as a true MMA champion.

Technical Mastery and Fight IQ

This is one of the aspects of Demetrious Johnson’s title defense that was unique; Johnson displayed great technical skills and brilliant tactical awareness. Johnson said that he was able to move back and forth from striking to wrestling to grappling, which made him a very dangerous fighter for anyone in the flyweight division. His footwork, movement, and defense exposed his opponents and limited them to low strike rates and minimal opportunities to strike him.

The aspect of fight IQ was well displayed by Johnson in how he would adapt during the fight. He could easily point out the opponent’s vulnerabilities and counter them, while at the same time neutralizing the opponent’s advantages. In striking a powerful puncher, grappling a high-level wrestler, or avoiding submissions from a BJJ specialist, Johnson proved to be a very adaptable fighter.

The Transition of Demetrious Johnson’s Style
Still, Johnson was able to adapt and change his game throughout the course of his reign, steadily and gradually. He devoted much effort to all aspects of his training and emerged as an all-round fighter in the true sense of the term. His punching became much more effective, and his speed and accuracy remained high enough to become a constant nuisance to his opponents. Despite his questionable stand-up striking, Johnson incorporated clinch work into his game and used knees and elbows to deal damage and take control over the fight.

Johnson’s grappling, as always, was incredible, but it was during his title run that he took it to another level. He displayed a host of submissions and transitions that many fans and analysts had never seen before. Some of the things that made him stand out were his transition from offense to defense and vice versa, and his emphasis on creating space for scoring. Learning from the best and never stagnating, Johnson paved the way for what a 21st-century mixed martial artist should be.

Consequences in the Flyweight Division
Johnson’s dominance influenced the flyweight division in a significant way. His reign put the spotlight on the division, proving that there are also highly skilled and athletic fighters in the lighter weight category. This also caused other flyweight fighters to rise to the occasion and make the division more competitive and interesting.

However, this dominance also had some negative effects for Johnson as a team. His winning streak and the general impression that he cannot be defeated contributed to the emergence of no serious competition, and this was a problem for the UFC in terms of promoting his fights. Nevertheless, Johnson continued to be an outstanding worker, a real contender who is eager to advance and achieve the next level.

Conclusion and Exit from the UFC
In August 2018, Johnson again fought the US-based Kenyan Henry Cejudo in a much-anticipated rematch at UFC 227. In a very entertaining fight that went all twelve rounds, Cejudo was declared the winner by a split decision, which put an end to Johnson’s six-year dominance of the flyweight division. Still, Johnson went down as one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA.

After the bout with Cejudo, Johnson was traded to ONE Championship in what was regarded as the biggest MMA trade. This was the final chapter in the Johnson-Varner rivalry in the UFC, but it was a new beginning for Johnson, challenging him with new experiences in Asia’s leading MMA promotion. In the ONE Championship, Johnson went on to display his talent and become the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, ultimately winning the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, which cements him as one of the all-time greats.

Sustaining the success of the ONE Championship
Namely, after signing a contract with ONE Championship, Johnson continued his career actively with the company. He was meeting high-level competition, and he was able to maintain the technical prowess and dynamic striking that characterized his time in the UFC. The Grand Prix victory in the ONE Championship was also a success, showcasing that he can also reign in another organization.

It can also be noted that through Johnson’s participation in the ONE Championship, MMA has been taken to the global stage. Johnson may also be credited with enhancing the visibility of MMA both in the Western and Asian regions, as his participation in a leading Asian promotion has encouraged other fighters around the globe to come forward and pursue their dreams.

Influence and Inspiration
Thus, Demetrious Johnson’s impact does not stay within the cage alone. He is known to be very professional and diligent, and he has a very low-profile personality. Johnson’s attitude toward the sport, which involves progressive enhancement and admiration of martial arts, is a good example for the young fighters.

Johnson’s story also relates to fans and fighters who have experience fighting the odds. Johnson was not a tall man, and he had to overcome many obstacles to become one of the best fighters ever. They show that no matter the odds, one has to work hard, be prepared to bend, and sacrifice in order to succeed in whatever one desires to do.

Conclusion
Demetrious Johnson, or as he is better known, Mighty Mouse, was the longest reigning UFC flyweight champion in the history of MMA. His record-breaking title run as well as his technical and tactical brilliance, along with his dogged determination to excel, have written their chapter in the annals of chess. Johnson’s prowess in the cage, his ability to beat down his opponents in all aspects of mixed martial arts, and his record-breaking eleven title defenses make him great.

Johnson has made a significant impression on the flyweight division and the MMA fraternity in general. He raised the bar, motivated the fighters, and demonstrated that the sport is not just brutal violence but art. Thus, as Johnson progresses in his ONE Championship career, the legacy of one of the all-time great mixed martial artists remains secure, and he serves to ensure that other fighters will always chase greatness.