Demetrious Johnson Announces Retirement From MMA

By Martial Arts Videos September 7, 2024
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Demetrious
Johnson has announced an end to one of the greatest MMA careers
of all time on Friday.

Johnson announced his retirement during an appearance at
ONE Championship 168 in Denver on Friday. Johnson made his pro
debut in 2009 under the King of
the Cage banner before moving to
World Extreme Cagefighting, which was later acquired by the

UFC. “Might Mouse” went on become the inaugural UFC flyweight
champion by defeating Joseph
Benavidez in a tournament finale in 2012.

This set off one of the most dominant runs in the history of the
sport, which included 11 successful title defenses — the most in
UFC flyweight history. Johnson relinquished his title in a
split-decision loss against Henry
Cejudo at UFC 227 in 2018. He was then traded to ONE
Championship in exchange for then welterweight champ Ben
Askren.

Johnson started his ONE Championship journey with three straight
victories to win the ONE flyweight grand prix, earning himself a
shot at then flyweight champ Adriano
Moraes. Johnson was finished off by Moraes for the first time
in his career with a knee to downed opponent, a move “Mighty Mouse”
strongly advocated to be legalized in all promotions. Johnson
exacted revenge with a flying knee knockout over Moraes in the
rematch in to win the ONE flyweight title before defending it with
a unanimous decision win in their trilogy.

The flyweight GOAT broke down in tears in his emotional retirement
speech, thanking his family, teammates and fans. Johnson was also
the first inductee into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame. The
38-year-old revealed that he was asked to leave his belt in the
cage, which he refused to do.

“They wanted me to leave the belt in here. I ain’t doing that s—t,”
Johnson said. “I came into this sport as a champ, I’m leaving my
black ass as a champ too.”

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