MMA legend and former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson has solidified his legacy in the sport. As a 14-time MMA world champion with numerous victories over elite opponents and a record-breaking streak of consecutive world title defenses, Johnson has achieved unparalleled success.
As Johnson contemplates whether to make a final appearance in the cage or officially retire, he has immersed himself in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It is a discipline that now fuels his daily drive. In a recent discussion on his channel with retired UFC veteran Chael Sonnen, Sonnen inquired about Johnson’s potential return to MMA and his endeavors in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Johnson candidly responded: “I haven’t decided yet [on my MMA future], to be honest with you. I’m still under contract. But right now, I’ve just been focusing on Brazilian jiu-jitsu. That’s just something that I’ve been focusing on, and, for me, that’s what excites me.”
At 37, Johnson continues to draw parallels between his current jiu-jitsu training and his high school wrestling days. He highlighted the competitive spirit that jiu-jitsu rekindles within him.
Johnson elaborated: “Like, it reminds me of the old days of wrestling in high school where you’re going to go and compete. That being said, as of right now, I’m focusing on jiu-jitsu until that flame burns out.”
Often hailed as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, Demetrious Johnson senses that his time in the sport may be nearing its conclusion. During his conversation with Chael Sonnen, Johnson disclosed the possibility of retiring from MMA by the end of 2024.
Reflecting on his career, Johnson stated: “I think when it comes to MMA like, I was just taking a nap today and I was thinking. 15 world titles, I defended an MMA belt 12 times, four amateur belts. What else is there for me to do in MMA?… Eventually, it might come to an end. It might come to an end this year.”
The reigning ONE flyweight MMA world champion’s dedication to improving his martial arts led him to train with submission grappling stars Kade and Tye Ruotolo. Johnson joined Kade (the ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion) and Tye (the ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion) at Pat Tenore’s facility in California.
Johnson shared a glimpse of this intense training session on Instagram, describing it as an encounter with a “monster from the depths of the void.” He expressed gratitude to the Ruotolo brothers for their guidance.
Johnson’s journey in MMA is marked by historic achievements. He became the first UFC flyweight world champion and defended his title a record 11 consecutive times from 2013 to 2017. In 2019, he transitioned to ONE Championship, where he claimed the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix World title and eventually the ONE flyweight MMA world title.
