VIDEO: Secret behind iconic UFC submission technique revealed by ‘GOAT’ Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson is one of the most skilled fighters in UFC history, showcasing dominance, speed, and precision throughout his prime. His well-rounded skill set combined elite striking, grappling, and fight IQ, making him nearly unstoppable against top-tier competition. Fans admired his entertaining performances, where he seamlessly blended technique and creativity, solidifying his legacy. 

One of the most iconic moments was when DJ pulled out a rare submission against Ray Borg at UFC 206. In the fifth round of the fight, ‘Mighty Mouse’ managed to land a flying suplex takedown to armbar submission which shocked everyone. Recently, the retired MMA fighter explained the technique behind it in detail. 

It was his last flyweight title defense, breaking the record of most title defenses(11) in the history of UFC. After that, the decorated fighter lost his title to Henry Cejudo, and later moved to One Championship in an infamous trade. However, before leaving, DJ managed to build a legacy which is extremely hard to achieve. 

🧠🤼Demetrious Johnson showcased his signature 'flying armbar' technique:

"A lot of people don’t have velocity to throw people up… You have to explode to get him up."

🎥 @MightyMouse ▫️ pic.twitter.com/y9OMPOkf02

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 18, 2025

Even during his time at One Championship, Johnson continued to maintain his dominance and won the championship. The American fighter has since taken retirement and is currently busy making MMA-related content. This also lets him analyze some of the best fighters in the world.

Demetrious Johnson reviews Islam Makhachev’s viral submission

Islam Makhachev is the current pound-for-pound number one fighter in the UFC. The Dagestani has defended his lightweight title four times and his last fight was against Renato Moicano at UFC 311. Moicano was a short-notice replacement for Arman Tsarukyan, and Makhachev didn’t waste any time before submitting him. 

A D’Arce choke from Makhachev remains deadly as he has also submitted Dustin Poirier with the same technique. Demetrious Johnson watched the fight live and as soon as the submission locked, he knew that the fight was over. In talked about the technique in detail and shared his opinion. 

Just a few weeks before UFC 311, Demetrious Johnson was seen training with Makhachev under Khabib Nurmagomedov. During the camp, he saw the discipline and hard work that the Dagestani fighters put in to reign at the top. Apart from that, the mutual respect between Nurmagomedov and DJ was wholesome to see.

Why Demetrious Johnson didn’t become a superstar 

Demetrious Johnson is respected for his dominant UFC flyweight reign, unmatched skill set, and technical brilliance. Many experts like Joe Rogan have extensively talked about how talented the fighter was in his prime. While many put DJ in their GOAT list, he didn’t receive the same stardom as the likes of Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones. 

One of the biggest reasons for this was his fallout with Dana White and UFC, which took place during his last stint in the promotion. Mighty Mouse clashed with White over fighter pay and respect. Johnson felt the UFC undervalued him despite his dominance. He wanted fair treatment and refused to be pressured into unfavorable matchups.

White publicly criticized Johnson for rejecting the TJ Dillashaw fight. Mighty Mouse responded by exposing UFC’s lack of support for lighter-weight fighters. Their dispute highlighted UFC’s handling of champions and pay disputes. 

Related: 10 Best Triangle Choke finishes in the history of UFC

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