Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson didn’t hold back his criticism of the referee’s controversial decisions during UFC 319’s main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis. In his live reaction, Johnson expressed strong disapproval of the referee’s choice to stand up the MMA stars on multiple occasions while Chimaev was in dominant grappling positions.
“I disagree with this. I disagree with this. That should have never been happen. That should have never happened because the same thing’s going to happen,”
Johnson stated emphatically during his live commentary. The MMA legend was particularly vocal about what he saw as referee interference that artificially reset the action when Chimaev had established clear control.
Johnson’s criticism centered on the referee’s decision to restart the action when Chimaev was methodically wearing down Du Plessis from dominant positions.
“There’s no reason why the ref should have stood him up. This is a match. It’s up to DDP to get to a better position to be able to better himself to be able to compete. The fact that the ref allowed DDP to get out of a very down position from Khamzat Chimaev is [problematic].”
The former champion went on to explain the technical aspects of what he witnessed, noting that Chimaev was employing fundamental wrestling techniques effectively.
“He puts his knee in front of the person so they can’t get up. He doesn’t put a hook in… he also keeps his hands underneath the armpits. He does not put the hands in a seat belt position,”
Johnson analyzed, describing Chimaev’s controlling methods.
Johnson’s frustration was evident as he watched the referee intervention unfold.
“So basically what the ref did, the ref gave DDP a more a better chance to compete… What just happened with the referee’s decision should have never happened,”
he continued, emphasizing that such interventions fundamentally alter the natural flow of mixed martial arts competition.
Despite acknowledging that the referee was likely trying to create a more fan-friendly match, Johnson maintained his stance that the sport’s integrity should take precedence.
“The ref’s just trying to make an exciting match. That’s what he’s trying to do,”
he conceded, while still disagreeing with the decision.
The criticism comes as Chimaev dominated the contest through superior wrestling, ultimately winning a unanimous decision to claim the middleweight title. Johnson’s commentary highlighted the ongoing debate in MMA about balancing entertainment value with pure athletic competition particularly when grappling-heavy approaches may not satisfy casual viewers seeking more action-packed exchanges.
Johnson’s expertise as a former champion and his technical understanding of grappling positions lent weight to his criticism as he provided detailed breakdowns of exactly why the referee’s interventions were problematic from a competitive standpoint.
Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis – FULL FIGHT pic.twitter.com/elTwFEl7xo
— Boxing Massacre (@BoxingMassacre) August 17, 2025
