Demetrious Johnson retires: How he shaped the sport of MMA

Thus, the statement about Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s retirement can be considered as the end of an era in mixed martial arts (MMA). The fighter with the most amazing skills, ideas and physical abilities, Johnson, is leaving behind more than the titles and awards. His influence on MMA has been tremendous and has shifted the landscape of the sport and the way it is fought especially in the lighter divisions. As Johnson retires, one must remember how he dominated the fights and explored the limits of a fighter in MMA.

Early Beginnings: From the Underdog to the Pioneer of the Flyweight Division

It should be noted that Demetrious Johnson’s career in the cage started as any other regular fighter’s career. At 5’3” tall and fighting in the lighter weight classes the first few years of his career he had all the markings of an unlikely future mixed martial arts superstar. Johnson was born in Kentucky, and his family moved to Washington State when he was still young. He was raised by a single mother and lived in poverty most of his childhood. All these experiences made Johnson a very strong competitor who is very hard working.

Johnson started his journey with MMA and fighting in different regional promotions, however, he was discovered when he joined the WEC organization in 2010. Johnson competed at the bantamweight division of 135 pounds and was usually a small man but his speed, technique and general smartness were evident early on. His work ethic, along with his capacity to switch between striking and grappling was a quality that set him apart from most of his counterparts.

The UFC-WEC merger that took place in 2010 offered Johnson the opportunity he had been waiting for to fight in the biggest promotion. Johnson had a brief stint at the bantamweight category which included a title shot against Dominick Cruz and Johnson moved to the newly created flyweight division (125 pounds) in 2012. For a fighter like Johnson, the UFC developed the flyweight division and he grabbed this chance with both hands.

This is the genesis of a flyweight dynasty.

UFC added its flyweight division in 2012 and conducted a four-man tournament to determine the first champion in the division. In the tournament Demetrious Johnson fought with Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez where he defeated Benavidez by split decision and was crowned as the first UFC Flyweight Champion. This moment was not only historic for Johnson but also to MMA as a sport since it had not reached this point before. It was the start of a flyweight division that would be forever associated with Johnson’s name.

Johnson’s reign as flyweight champion was history in the making. Johnson was able to defend his title from 2012 to 2018, 11 times in a row, thus breaking the previous record for the most title defenses in UFC held by Anderson Silva. In this period Johnson dominated his opponents more than any fighter in MMA no matter the weight division. He was one of the most balanced martial artists in the history of MMA because he could switch between wrestling, striking, grappling, and submissions as an organic fighting style.

But what set Johnson apart from all the others was his fight smarts. He was not only strong and agile; he was a strategist who could readjust his battle strategy mid-battle, find loopholes in his opponent’s armor and take advantage of them as if it was the most natural thing to do. His triumphs were always a clinic of how to outwit and outplay the opponents. Some of the fights include his second fight with John Dodson where he outworked a potent knockout puncher and his win against Kyoji Horiguchi where he submitted his opponent in the dying embers of the bout showed that Johnson possessed a very diverse skill set and he could rise to the occasion.

The highlight of Johnson’s career was in his fight against Ray Borg in 2017 when he delivered what is now famously known as The Mighty Wiz-bar which is a suplex into an armbar in mid-air that made Borg tap out. This was a classic highlight-reel of Johnson, his creativity, technical prowess, and capacity to invent new ways of winning inside the cage.

Changing the Perception of Other Lighter Weight Classes

During Johnson’s reign, the lighter weight classes in MMA especially the flyweight and the bantamweight division were not much recognized by the fans or the media. People then used to believe that the smaller fighters were not as strong and entertaining as the divisions in the heavyweight category, where knockouts and battles were more often observed. However, Johnson’s performances overturned all these assumptions.

Johnson showed that there was entertainment in the lighter weight classes if not more than in the heavier divisions. His speed, agility and technical prowess were evident in every fight and how he was able to finish the fight whether through submission, KO or sheer domination for 5 rounds proved that flyweights were capable of producing entertaining fights. People started to embrace the sport and specifically the lighter weight divisions and much of that change in attitude can be attributed to Johnson.

In addition to promoting the flyweight division, Johnson’s success paved the way for future generations of fighters. His training regimen, which focused on skill acquisition, efficiency and perpetually improving, served as a guideline to fighters who sought to perform in the lower weight categories. Others such as Henry Cejudo, Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno the UFC flyweight champions after Johnson also credit him for his impact in their careers.

The Move to ONE Championship: Carrying On His Work

In a rather shocking development in 2018, Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE Championship for former UFC Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez. This trade was the first of its kind in the entire MMA and it marked the beginning of a new phase in Johnson’s career. People questioned if Johnson will maintain his supremacy in Asia, which is home to ONE Championship that has consistently developed quality fighters in different divisions.

Johnson’s transition to ONE Championship was not only to extend his fight career but also to explore new avenues in his life and career. In the One Flyweight World Grand Prix, Johnson had to face a new set of challenges such as fighting with opponents who were bigger than him because of the weight cutting that is not allowed in ONE Championship. However, Johnson’s skills were applicable to the new promotion despite the changes that were taking place.

He was the winner of the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix in 2019 and he is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The victory over Danny Kingad in the final was a perfect example of his striking and grappling, as well as his ability to perform in new conditions and under the new rules. Despite the fact that Johnson would go on to suffer from challenges in ONE Championship – being knocked out by Adriano Moraes in 2021, the first time in his career – his decision to take on a new promotion only served him well.

This time in ONE Championship also exposed Johnson as the sport’s ambassador. Fighting in Asia, Johnson contributed to the promotion of the fact that MMA is not only UFC or North America. He was a professional, humble and a true sportsman, and his personality made him one of the most beloved fighters in MMA history across the globe.

Introducing Fight IQ and Technical Mastery

It is not a secret that Demetrious Johnson has made a lot of impact in the sport of MMA, particularly in the way he stresses the importance of fight IQ and technicality. In a sport which is well-known for its physicality and violence, Johnson managed to become a thinking man’s fighter. His capacity to go from striking to grappling and vice versa, along with his knowledge of positions, timing, and distance, were simply perfect for him to be a nightmare to his rivals.

Johnson’s ability to think inside the ring was well captured by the manner in which he dealt with each fighter as if he was different. Whether it was his wrestling to shut down the striker or his striking keeping the grappler at bay, Johnson had the uncanny ability of adapting in the heat of the battle. He was very versatile and it looked like he was always a step ahead of his adversaries most of the time.

Johnson was also well trained and prepared technically and he made good use of the same in his game. He was a good example of a smart fighter who never stopped learning and was always looking for ways to enhance himself. The fact that he was always willing to learn new tricks and techniques, whether it was with his BJJ with Matt Hume or his striking, was something that was missing in most of his contemporaries.

In a sport where barbarity often triumphs over finesse, Johnson’s victory was a testament of the fact that technique, planning and brains are as important if not more than brawn.

The “Pound-for-Pound” Debate and Johnson’s Position in the History of MMA

Over the years, Demetrious Johnson was often on the lips of people when it comes to the best pound for pound fighters in the history of MMA. It was common to find him in these debates mainly because of his flyweight division, and his technical prowess. But what does the phrase ‘pound-for-pound’ champion mean and how does Johnson factor into the conversation?

Pound-for-pound ranking is supposed to compare fighters depending on their ability, regardless of the weight division. In this regard, Johnson’s all rounder and his ability to deliver the best in every match makes him one of the greatest of all time. Unlike some of the fighters who have specializations in a certain area, Johnson was the perfect example of a well-rounded mixed martial artist. He could win fights standing up, on the ground, by submission or knockout, and that he did all of that against top opposition makes him great.

Although fighters such as Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov are often compared, Johnson’s achievements in the flyweight division especially, record breaking title defenses, put him in a class of his own. Not only does he hold records in his longevity at the top but he also continues to accept new challenges within ONE Championship, thus strengthening his case as one of the best fighters to ever grace the octagon.

Legacy Beyond the Cage: The Analyst and the Strategist

Demetrious Johnson has announced his retirement from professional MMA fights and his contributions to the sport will be felt in the coming years. Not only did he define what it is to be a well-rounded mixed martial artist, but he also became a role model for the up and coming fighters. He was humble, a professional and the way he handled competition was different from what we expected in a sport full of controversies.

Johnson was not one to huff and puff and do all sorts of promotional stunts just to hype up a fight. However, he kept on proving himself inside the cage through his performances. During the period when talent and hard work tend to be overshadowed by entertainment and scandals, Johnson’s attitude was a perfect example of how success can be achieved without compromising ethics.

However, such advancements inside the cage have been felt through the innovations by Johnson on the sport. He has been so innovative and did not hesitate to try new movements that he brought a new generation of fighters in MMA. From the Mighty Wiz-bar to his ability to switch between striking and grappling, Johnson proved that there is always the chance for learning in a sport that is always growing.

Conclusion: The End of an Era, Start of a Legacy

Demetrious Johnson’s retirement is the end of one of the most fantastic stories in the history of mixed martial arts. This is not to mention his 11 title defenses or the records that he set in the sport of boxing. Johnson changed the way people viewed the lighter weight classes, introduced the notion of fight intelligence and polished technique and was a fighter’s reference point for the rest of the world.

In the ever changing world of MMA, Johnson will leave his mark on the sport for many more years to come. His record is not one of domination, but of progression, discretion, and passion that he devoted to motor sport. Even though the octagon may not be able to witness the skill of Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, his legacy in the MMA will last for centuries.