D. Johnson leaves the UFC after seven years. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFCBrasil
Former UFC flyweight champion and MMA legend, Demetrious Johnson is now a One Championship athlete. The change was made possible after the exchange of fighters between One and the UFC – the first 'trade' in the history of mixed martial arts. In a conference call on Sunday (28), 'Mighty Mouse' said that he decided to transfer organization, as he needed new challenges in his career. Furthermore, the fighter also revealed his dream of fighting on the Asian continent, as was the case in the extinct Pride.
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“At one point, I felt like I was still too young and wanted to try something different in my career. I always wanted to travel the world and compete. I grew up watching Asian mixed martial arts at Pride. Having the opportunity to travel to Asia in a new weight class is something I couldn't pass up. (…) I’m now a ONE athlete and I’m excited to see what happens,” said Johnson.
According to Johnson, ONE Championship maintains martial arts values such as honor, integrity and respect. Which also motivated him to join the organization.
“The first time I watched 'The Burmese Python' [Aung La N Sang] fight at the last event in Yangon, I could see how the audience would react when he entered the cage to fight and after he won and how the entire crowd was saying your name. I can see that his countrymen, his people really see him as a hero, not as an athlete who goes to a bar after that and hits someone in the face, they honestly are the home of martial arts and it's not just mixed martial arts.” , said Demetrious.
The 'trade' or exchange of athletes is common in other sports, such as the NBA. However, this is the first time it has happened in MMA. According to Johnson, fighters should have the option to compete in different organizations.
“There are several people involved in this: First Round Management, ONE Championship, [ONE president] Chatri Sityodtong, [VP of operations] Matt Hume, the UFC… It was a collective, people coming together and making this happen. And even Ben Askren. So I think that's great. I believe that if fighters want to be traded and compete in different organizations, they should have that option”, concluded 'Mighty Mouse'.
Demetrious Johnson ends his time in the UFC after seven years in the organization. His debut in the franchise was in February 2011 when he beat Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC 216. In September 2012, 'Mighty Mouse' won the inaugural flyweight belt with a victory over Joseph Benavidez. Since then, there have been 11 title defenses, a UFC record. The North American lost the division title in August this year after being surpassed by Henry Cejudo. In his professional MMA career, the fighter has 31 fights with 27 wins, three setbacks and one draw.
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