UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson sat down with MMA Today and touched on several jiu-jitsu related topics, from training with Khamzat Chimaev to turning down a grappling match offer and his future in IBJJF competition.
When asked about his training session with the reigning middleweight champion, Johnson talked about what stood out.
“He’s a monster. His strength, obviously, there’s a size discrepancy. He’s way bigger than me, but he understands mixed martial arts. He has good hands. He has good jiu-jitsu. He’s good all around.”
“He has good hands, good footwork, good distance control. Jiu-jitsu is really good as well. He has a system that he likes to go and use, and he was able to catch me with that darce choke.”
Johnson revealed that an offer was extended for him to compete against Arman Tsarukyan at a grappling event in Brazil, and he did not hesitate in his response.
“He was like, ‘You want to come grapple? They’ll pay you money.’ I was like, ‘I’m not grappling you. You’re too big.’ He was like, ‘It’s an exhibition for fun.’ I was like, ‘I’m not coming to Brazil so you can choke me out.’ That almost happened, but I said no. I was like, ‘Arman, not happening, man.'”
When the interviewer brought up the conversation around jiu-jitsu being designed for smaller practitioners, Johnson gave a detailed take.
“It is if the other guy doesn’t know jiu-jitsu. And if the other guy’s jiu-jitsu isn’t as good as mine, if my jiu-jitsu is better than somebody, then I should be able to beat them. But if my jiu-jitsu is better than them and they’re a little bit bigger than me, I’m going to struggle.”
“If my jiu-jitsu is better than them and their jiu-jitsu is just as good as mine and they’re bigger and athletic, that’s when size does make a difference. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always a chance, but the chance is very, very minimal.”
Johnson was equally direct when asked whether he plans to return to IBJJF competition.
“Not right now. I’m not interested. I don’t have a calling to do jiu-jitsu like I used to because I want to train once a week and my projects have taken majority of my passion. That’s what I’ve been focusing on.”
He went further in explaining why the competitive itch is simply no longer there.
“Nothing changes if you win or lose. My life doesn’t change. So that’s why I don’t care to compete, if that makes sense. I win IBJJF gold world, I don’t know if my life would change or if I’d feel different.”
