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
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
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 ChampionDemetrious 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 BeginsJohnson 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 DefensesJohn 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 StyleStill, 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
5 Legendary Last-Second Victories In UFC History
The fighters in the vicious UFC always come to the mats,mats, hoping the dream of victory is intoxicated into their system.It’s in It’s in these situations where the impossible turns into the possible, when the match swings in the last moments and ends with the winner,winner, and the truth of MMA is completely revealed. Let’s go back to relive five epic last-second wins that were worthy of being remembered through the UFC’s history as traces of brave-hearted, one-art game players who dared and believed. The name Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is associated with being the ruler of the flyweight division in the UFC. But at UFC 186, it came to Johnson’s play, the talent strike, which happened to be the person of Kyoji Horiguchi. The fight began with this style, implying attacking the UFC world title by a challenger. Besides, it was round and round as the rounds kept unfolding that Johnson clearly demonstrated his great experience and skill acquired during years of service. It was over in a single second, with his armbar submission swooping in and forcing Horiguchi to tap out, in which Johnson established his name as one of the most legendary flyweights. As far as UFC Fight Night 139 is concerned, another incredible encounter was also presented. Rodriguez, who encountered KO against Josh Emmet, was brought back in to battle with Jung, who is also known as “Korean Zombie.” The latter was expectedly a strong opponent of Rodriguez. The fight progressed, but so did Jung’s dominance. He dictated the fight from the very beginning to the very end. The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with Jung on top with the scorecards after the determined struggle. By all accounts, the match had been a back-and-forth contest. However, in an unbelievable ending, Rodriguez executed a vicious back elbow with barely seconds remaining to the clock; Jung was unconscious, and the judges awarded the KO of the year title to Rodriguez for 2018. This matchup between Spanning Jiří Procházka and Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 displayed the guts and conviction of the two fighters. Procházka (a young, agile striker) and his rival Teixeira (a perceptive veteran player) faced each other off. Towards the end of the actual engagement, what happened was these switches between various two-born warriors. Sometimes, it takes a spectacular moment to forget all the pain. A remarkable win was achieved by Procházka when he managed to submit Teixeira in just 32 seconds before the end of the match and became the light heavyweight champion. Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje produced a fight where time flew as fast as their sensationally accurate punches at UFC 300. In that fight, Holloway, with his astounding counterattacks, powered through the whole session to overcome his opponent. And when Holloway was leading with the scorecards, he couldn’t afford to remain inactive and won the fight. In that last round of fight, he launched a supreme strike that made Gaethje faint, and thus he proved his standing as one of the UFC’s finest boxers of all time. The much-anticipated rematch between Leon Edwars and Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 kept attention with a little gap of fingertips in the audience. Edwards, although down in the scores, fought steadily to the night’s end. The combo of Edwards’s corner’s emphatic call-to-arms driving his resolve, complemented by a barrage of strikes crowned by knocking out Usman, gave him a historic victory, with the bout ending 5 seconds from the final bell. The five unforgettable last-minute victories in the UFC fight are the strongest examples of how unpredictable and captivating MMA sports are. In the heat of the octagon, where every move is essential, these moments inspire us to unveil our strength, desire, and pure willingness, which push the athletes to showcase their skills in an attempt to achieve their magical dreams. Before we close up, let’s take a closer look at how these fights ended up being not just wins but crucial steps that shaped the careers of the fighters. Demetrious Johnson’s victory over Kyoji Horiguchi at the UFC 186 was achieved not just by demonstrating his skill and strength; it proved to be the best moment of his life, which earned him his place amongst the best champions of all time in the UFC. Johnson was in a position to win by just a second that remained on the clock, and this instance of him following through on an execution that was flawless quite showcased that he was really capable of performing under pressure even at moments in which the fight is born and raised. This win certainly proved that Johnson was equal to the submission to beat for the fly weight division. Yair Rodriguez’s round-one knockout of Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night 139 was indeed a fantastic and brave comeback of Rodriguez’s. In the aftermath of the very tough waste case, Rodriguez struggled to make up with Jung and was in deep trouble with scorecards. Albeit being in the corner, Rodriguez went through the welter but managed to come back victorious, sealing the deal in the second few seconds, showing that above all, he had heart and gait. Jiří Prochazka’s laboratory distinctiveness demonstrated at UFC 275 that the Czech warrior has a diverse arsenal and iron determination. Procházka, who was rising as one of the best prospects in Bellator, faced a tough but experienced opponent in Teixeira. He stood his ground and continued on his way like an unstoppable force. While the minutes were only a few seconds on the clock, Procházka saw a chance to finish the task in submission; hence, he was the new UFC light heavyweight champion at last. Max Holloway, who gave a knockout to Justin Gaethje during the game at UFC 300, was absolute evidence of talent and persistence. Notwithstanding having faced a great striker such as Gaethje, Holloway continued to rule the game by means of precision points and tireless speed. With a few seconds left, Holloway managed to land the master blow, which
