Demetrious Johnson’s legacy in numbers: The greatest flyweight of all time?
When it comes to mixed martial arts (MMA), there are fighters who are easily recognized and then there is Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Often considered as one of the best pound for pound fighters of all time, Johnson’s claim to the throne of the greatest flyweight of all times is not only based on his amazing performances inside the cage but also by the number of records he has set and the number of records he has broken in the course of his career.
Johnson’s journey from his emergence in the UFC to his reign as the first UFC Flyweight Champion and then moving over to ONE Championship is something that has put him in a league of his own in the flyweight division and beyond. This article aims to examine Demetrious Johnson’s legacy through the numbers, looking at his title reign, fight metrics, and overall impact on the sport, while answering the question: Can we really consider Demetrious Johnson as the greatest flyweight of all time?
The Beginning and the UFC Flyweight Tournament
Before the flyweight division was added in the UFC in 2012 Johnson fought in the bantamweight division (135 lbs) where he also showed his potential. In his last fight at the bantamweight division Johnson challenged for the UFC Bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz, who at the time was the champion, and even though Johnson competed in a weight class above his natural weight he was able to give a good account of himself.
Johnson’s transfer to the newly created flyweight division which was more appropriate for his build started Johnson’s reign. In 2012, the UFC started a four men tournament with the aim of crowning the first ever flyweight champion. Johnson was able to defeat Ian McCall in the first fight of the tournament via split decision but the two fighters were again scheduled for another bout and Johnson got the better of the deal with a unanimous decision to proceed to the final round of the tournament. In the final fight Johnson fought Joseph Benavidez and won via split decision and became the first UFC Flyweight Champion. This victory paved way to what will be one of the greatest title reigns in the history of UFC.
Johnson’s Flyweight Title Reign Explained in Numbers
Demetrious Johnson’s title run at the UFC flyweight division is one of the best in the history of the company. Let’s break down the key numbers that define his dominance at 125 pounds:Let’s break down the key numbers that define his dominance at 125 pounds:
1. 11 Title Defenses
Johnson is the man with the most consecutive UFC title defenses which he made in the flyweight division where he successfully defended the title 11 times between 2012 and 2018. This achievement broke the previous record of 10 held by the ex-middleweight champion Anderson Silva which further cement Johnson’s position as one of the great champions in the history of the sport.
Johnson was therefore able to retain his championship and defeat every contender who came his way, each with their own special skills and talents, thus proving Johnson’s versatility and technical prowess. His title defenses were against a host of opponents, some of whom were power strikers, some were grapplers and some were well-rounded fighters, but Johnson was still unbeaten during this period.
2. 8 Performance of the Night Bonuses
In his UFC run, Johnson received eight ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses which show how he always came through with spectacular fights in some of the most pivotal moments of his career. Unlike other champions who prefer to play more cautiously and conservatively especially when defending their titles, Johnson always looked for ways to knock out his opponents and display the improvements he was making.
Johnson’s one of the greatest performances was in his 2017 title defense against Ray Borg where he produced one of the most memorable finishes in the history of the MMA. Johnson was able to make a transition from a suplex to an armbar mid air in the fifth round, which led to Johnson to win the match via submission. That submission not only showed how creative and technical Johnson is but also got him the Performance of the Night bonus.
3. 18 Total UFC Wins
Johnson’s UFC career was quite successful as he won 18 of his 21 fights with the most of them coming at flyweight. His 18 wins are proof of the fact that he has been a force to be reckoned with in the sport for a long time. It is also important to mention that Johnson’s defeats in the UFC were to the highest level of competition, such as to Dominick Cruz at the bantamweight division and a split decision loss to Henry Cejudo in 2018 which stopped his reign as the champion.
Johnson’s win percentage remains high even after his UFC fights and he has managed to clinch victories in most of the fights that he has had in the UFC to date.
4. 9 Wins by Submission
While Johnson was considered as one of the most versatile fighters in the world of MMA, his submission skills were one of his biggest assets. Out of the 18 wins that he has on his record in the UFC, nine were finishes via submission which proves his stand up grappling ability. Johnson’s submission wins were always crafted by his striking and grappling skills and he would switch from striking to grappling to submit his opponents.
The most memorable of Johnson’s submissions was in his third title defense against John Moraga in 2013. In the last round Johnson took the fight to the ground with his wrestling and finished his opponent with an armbar, proving that he can finish fights even in the later stages.
5. 7 Wins by Knockout/TKO
Despite the fact that Johnson is famous for his grappling and submission, he was not far from knockouts and technical knockouts. In his career he has achieved seven knockouts or TKOs, and most of these were due to his great striking power and speed. Johnson’s striking was also very efficient as he was able to land his strikes from various angles and his footwork was also very good as he was able to control the distance both in the standing and the ground fighting.
Of the many highlights of his career, his knockout of Joseph Benavidez in their 2013 rematch is one of the most important. Johnson knocked out Benavidez with a clean right hand in the first two minutes of the first round of the fight to earn his second title defense and to prove a point that he is the boss in the division.
Fight Metrics: The Facts about Johnson’s Style
In addition, the following fight metrics will help to get a better understanding of Demetrious Johnson’s fighting style beyond wins and losses. Here are some of the key statistics that defined his fighting career:Here are some of the key statistics that defined his fighting career:
1. Significant Strikes Landed: 1,491
Johnson is one of the most effective fighters in UFC in relation to significant strikes delivered. In his UFC career, he delivered 1,491 significant strikes and many of them were due to his good timing, speed and foot work. Johnson striking was not only that of power but of accuracy, and this is something that Johnson displayed throughout the fight as he would chip away at his opponents with clean accurate shots.
What makes Johnson’s striking even more impressive is the fact that he can also stand and trade with his wrestling and grappling. Unlike most fighters who specialize in striking or grappling, Johnson was very effective in switching between the two, thus always surprising his opponents.
2. Takedowns Landed: 74
Johnson’s wrestling was one of the most effective ways of fighting that Johnson used. He managed to secure 74 takedowns in his UFC career and this shows how he was able to control the fight and where it was to take place. Johnson’s wrestling was not only the force; it was the tactic, strategy and the art of complementing it with his striking to confuse the opponents.
It is possible, however, that Johnson’s most impressive accomplishment was the fact that he used takedowns in a variety of ways. He was using his wrestling to finish the fight or to control the fight from top position, as we can see in the fight against Kyoji Horiguchi when he submitted Horiguchi in the last second of the last round.
3. Striking Accuracy: 52%
Demetrious Johnson has a striking accuracy of 52% which shows the effectiveness of the fighter in the cage. Instead of throwing reckless, power punches, Johnson managed to counter and throw clean and effective punches at will. His punching accuracy was coupled with good footwork and movement, making him one of the most difficult targets to hit, while at the same outlanding opponents on the feet.
4. Takedown Defense: 65%
Johnson was also a great defensive wrestler despite the fact that he was famous for his striking and submission grappling. His takedown defense of 65% shows that he can avoid takedowns from some of the division’s best grapplers. This enabled Johnson to maintain the distance that he wanted in the fight and not let his opponent take him down as this is a big deal in the flyweight division as the fights are characterized by many scrambles and transitions.
The Henry Cejudo Rivalry: A Defining Chapter in Johnson’s Legacy
The biggest rivalry of Johnson was with Henry Cejudo who is a wrestler with an Olympic gold medal around his neck and a two-time UFC champion. Johnson and Cejudo fought two times and the rivalry between them was a perfect example of two top fighters in the history of the flyweight division.
In their first match held in 2016, Johnson beat Cejudo by TKO in the first round only. The fight demonstrated Johnson’s skills against a high level wrestler as he took Cejudo’s wrestling to knees from the clinch to break through his defense and win the fight.
Their second meeting in 2018 was a much more competitive fight and it was Cejudo who was able to win by split decision and put an end to Johnson’s great title run. It was a great fight that demonstrated the development of both athletes: Cejudo demonstrated better striking and wrestling defense, while Johnson managed to keep up with the opponent and perform well.
Even though Johnson was defeated by Cejudo to mark the end of his UFC title reign, he could not be written off. However, up to now, many fans and analysts still think that Johnson was the winner of the fight, and the rivalry with Cejudo only enhanced the interest in both athletes’ future careers.
Transition to ONE Championship
After suffering a defeat at the hands of Cejudo, Johnson made one of the most shocking decisions and joined ONE Championship, an MMA organisation based in Asia. Johnson’s decision to leave the UFC, the organization that he had helped build, was considered as a very brave one. However, it offered him a new challenge to fight with other rivals and enhance his status on the international level.
Johnson also competed in ONE Championship where he also won the Flyweight World Grand Prix tournament in 2019. His wins over Yuya Wakamatsu, Tatsumitsu Wada and Danny Kingad showed that he is capable of rising to new challenges and establish that his reign is not only limited to the UFC.
Conclusion: The Greatest Flyweight of All Time?:
In this case, when trying to assess Demetrious Johnson’s legacy, the numbers paint the picture. Johnson has had 11 title defences, 18 wins in the UFC and a list of achievements that make him the most dominant fighter in the flyweight division. His stand up, grappling and submission skills were complemented by his versatility and ingenuity that made him one of the most versatile fighters in the history of the MMA.
Other fighters such as Henry Cejudo and Deiveson Figueiredo have also done well in the flyweight division but none has been consistent like Johnson. Johnson may have lost the fight but he has proven time and again that he is one of the best fighters in the world and his signing with ONE Championship only strengthen this.
Thus, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will go down in history as the best flyweight of all time. His reign as the UFC Flyweight Champion, his record of title defenses and his current success in ONE Championship makes him not just the best flyweight in the history of UFC but one of the best fighters of all time in the history of MMA. It is simply hard to argue with the facts – Demetrious Johnson is one of the greatest of all time.
