Having to cut his weight for the majority of his mixed martial arts matches over the years, MMA GOAT Demetrious Johnson is taking advantage of the more laid-back atmosphere in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions.
In MMA, weight cuts are customary and competitors adhere to specific weight divisions. But in BJJ tournaments, competitors weigh in just a couple hours before their matches. This setup allows DJ to compete at his walking around weight.
Notably, DJ has been making waves in the IBJJF brown belt circuit. He has been showcasing his skills by securing submission victories over adversaries who often outweigh him.
In a recent interview on Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, DJ highlighted his appreciation for BJJ’s straightforward stance on weight classes.
He said: “Now, being 37 years old, when I do jiu-jitsu, I can either go 141 or can go 154 [pounds]. Huge jump in weight. But the thing about jiu-jitsu, is we do the gi and we do the tournaments is you have to weigh in and they put you in the bullpen. You have to fight like 30 minutes after you weigh in, which I love that.”
He went on to say: “I’m not cutting down to 141. I’m just not doing that. I’m showing up and I weigh 150 pounds. If you beat me cause you’re bigger, congratulations. That’s how it is.”
DJ embraces the unpredictability of BJJ tournaments, where he encounters a diverse array of opponents employing different grappling styles. He said: “When I’m going to a jiu-jitsu tournament, I have no idea who’s in my bracket. I don’t know what game they’re going to play. Is it De La Riva, is it Lasso, is it Worm, is it Squid Guard? Are they a judo player?”
Johnson went on to say: “I was getting all these puzzles in one day, and I loved that excitement. One day that might get extinguished, but until then, I’m gonna keep it running baby.”
It’s especially interesting to hear Johnson praise IBJJF’s organization because ONE FC claims to have ‘fixed’ weight cutting despite a number of controversies.
One Championship’s implementation of hydration tests to discourage weight cutting has been praised for claiming to prioritize safety, especially amid concerns about the dangers of extreme weight cutting.
However, during their recent events, multiple stars failed hydration tests or missed weight, sparking controversy and raising questions about the effectiveness of their approach.
One Championship enforces weight classes that are 10 pounds higher than traditional limits and alleges it subjects athletes to multiple hydration tests throughout week.
Previously there was a lot of criticisim about weigh ins being basically a press release not scrutinized by independant media but ONE FC has since stepped up and now publishes weigh in videos.
