Demetrious Johnson officially confirmed his retirement from mixed martial arts at ONE 168: Denver. The event, held at Ball Arena last Friday, saw ‘Mighty Mouse’ deliver an emotional speech that left fans both nostalgic and inspired.
However, this isn’t the last we’ll see of the legendary athlete in competitive sports. Johnson, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt at 38 years old, has found a new passion in the world of gi competitions. He’s been making waves in the IBJJF scene and has promised to continue his journey on the mats.
During the ONE 168 broadcast, Johnson shared his enthusiasm for his new focus: “I fell in love with jiu-jitsu. I absolutely love it. It’s all I think about. It’s all I watch. It’s kind of like my new passion, just like with mixed martial arts.”
The former flyweight world champion went on to explain, “So now I’m done competing in mixed martial arts. Maybe one day you guys will see me in here grappling, do a grappling match. But right now, I’m a Gi boy. I’m a Gi boy, so I’m just going to pursue my passion for jiu-jitsu in the Gi.”
Johnson’s impact on the sport of MMA cannot be overstated. His name is consistently mentioned in discussions about the greatest of all time, and his accomplishments have left even seasoned professionals in awe.
While Johnson may be stepping away from the MMA cage, he’s not leaving the combat sports world entirely. In addition to his continued participation in BJJ competitions, he’ll maintain his connection to MMA through his growing MightyCast podcast.
As Johnson transitions into this new chapter of his athletic career, fans can look forward to witnessing his skills on the BJJ mats. His dedication to the sport and his continuous pursuit of excellence promise exciting performances in the gi competitions to come.
