“How much more do I do,” Demetrious Johnson acknowledges potential retirement after first-ever US ONE Championship event
Johnson is a thirteen-time flyweight World Champion and is often regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
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Image credits: L- ufc.com, R- ONE Championship
The ONE Championship flyweight champion, the legendary Demetrious Johnson, is reportedly contemplating retirement from the octagon. But before he hangs up his gloves for good, he’s gearing up for one last epic battle that promises to be an all-out war. On May 5th, Johnson will face off against his long-time rival, Adriano Moraes, in what could be the final fight of his illustrious career. The two titans collide in the 1st Bank Center in Denver, Colorado.
Demetrious Johnson recently hinted about hanging up the gloves.“Being 36, I sit down with the wife and kids,…I sit there and think, how much more do I need to do? How much more do I want to do?,” Johnson told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. Johnson had mentioned in an earlier interview in 2021 that he sees himself fighting four more fights. But his upcoming trilogy with Adriano Moraes isn’t even the third fight in the two years.
Demetrious Johnson faced Adriano Moraes for the first time in April 2021 and faced a knockout in the second round. But then in the rematch in 2022, Demetrious Johnson got him back with a flying knee in the fourth round. Now the trilogy may be the final time fans will see Johnson throwing flying knees in the octagon.
Johnson is a thirteen-time flyweight World Champion and is often regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. “We relied on my body and athleticism to pay my bills, it is time to start looking at other avenues to bring in revenue and sustain my lifestyle,” Johnson said. Demetrious Johnson has a successful YouTube channel with 210K+ subscribers where he live-streams and reacts to fight content online.
Demetrious Johnson on John Jones vs Ciryl Gane fight
John Jones defeated Cyril Gane at UFC 287 in the first round to win the UFC Heavyweight title. This was his debut fight in the division. Jones is already a UFC Hall of Famer and has dominated the Light-Heavyweight division. However, fans were making fun of his bulked-up physique at UFC 285.
Demetrious Johnson discussed Jon Jones’ accomplishments in the heavyweight division with Ariel Helwani. Jones didn’t need to gain weight, Johnson claims, in order to beat Ciryl Gane. “He could have done all that at 205.”
Francis Ngannou, the former heavyweight champion, needed all five rounds to defeat Gane, but Jones did it in the first round. Another example of how at the highest level of MMA, talent counts. Therefore, it can be argued that Johnson is right when he says that Jones should have defeated Gane at light heavyweight.
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Nikhil Sonmali
(1112 Articles Published)