In a momentous occasion for the martial arts community, former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson has been promoted to the coveted rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
This promotion marks a significant milestone in Johnson’s esteemed grappling journey and solidifies his status as one of the premier grapplers in the world of mixed martial arts.
Johnson’s ascension to black belt has been long-awaited and well-deserved. Despite his exceptional grappling prowess and numerous accolades in the UFC, questions had lingered among BJJ and MMA enthusiasts as to why the “Mighty Mouse” had yet to receive the highest honor in the gentle art.
This was particularly puzzling after witnessing recent instances where MMA stars with limited grappling credentials were swiftly awarded black belts.
However, Johnson’s professor had a different philosophy in mind. In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Mightycast,” Johnson shed light on his professor’s approach, revealing that instructor wanted to ensure Johnson reached an exceptionally high level before bestowing the prestigious rank.
“Every Professor is different, right? You know, my Professor believes that a belt is given when a person has reached that level right, and he thinks that my ceiling is to be able to. When I become a black belt he wants to make sure I’m a nasty black belt,” Johnson explained.
He added, “Because he’s like there’s still so much knowledge for you to learn before you get your black belt and he goes, ‘Yeah, of course I can give you a black belt, but that’s just me giving it to you.’ But I’d rather be a solid strong black belt. It’s like, you know, he wants people to look at me as like, ‘Yeah, this guy, he’s a legit black belt.'”
Now, after years of dedicated training and countless hours on the mats, Johnson’s coach has deemed him ready to join the ranks of black belt practitioners.
In a heartfelt post, Johnson expressed his gratitude and honor, captioning, “Amazing day of training!! Thank you to professor @bibianofernandes & professor @yanmccane for presenting me with my black belt promotion today!! It was extremely special also having my two coaches from the start of my mma career there as well @skiddssteve @mmawizardEveryone that I’ve shared mat time with from @grplclub and @flashacademymartialarts showed up to support as well. I’m honored and looking to continuing my journey as a martial artist while also competing as a black belt!”
This remarkable achievement in the life of every martial artist is a testament to Johnson’s unwavering commitment and passion for the art. As he embarks on this new chapter, competing at the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the entire martial arts community wishes Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson continued success and growth in his ever-evolving journey.
