MMA fans were left in a state of shock when the news broke that Demetrious Johnson was leaving the UFC. UFC was where he spent most of his career, he left them for ONE Championship. Johnson had been one of the most successful fighters in UFC history, and his departure was subject to a lot of questions. Demetrious Johnson, also known as “Mighty Mouse,” is a former professional mixed martial artist. He was born on August 13, 1986, in Kentucky, USA. Johnson started his MMA career in 2007 and quickly established himself as a top fighter.
In 2010, he joined the UFC and began his journey towards becoming one of the greatest fighters in the organization’s history. Johnson’s career in UFC was nothing short of remarkable. He won his first UFC Flyweight Championship in 2012 by defeating Joseph Benavidez.
Johnson went on to defend his title a record 11 times, cementing himself as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. His accomplishments inside the octagon include numerous submission and knockout victories, earning him the admiration of fans and fellow fighters. Despite his achievements, Johnson’s relationship with the UFC was rocky at times.
The shocking UFC exit of Demetrious Johnson
In 2017, Demetrious Johnson criticized the organization for not promoting him as much as other fighters, claiming that he was not given the same opportunities as his peers. Additionally, Johnson’s complaints about the UFC’s Reebok deal, which required all fighters to wear Reebok gear during fights, did not sit well with the organization.
In 2018, the UFC announced that it had traded Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for welterweight Ben Askren. The trade was unprecedented in MMA history and took many fans by surprise. Johnson himself expressed excitement at the opportunity to compete in Asia and take on new challenges.
Demetrious Johnson’s departure from UFC was a shock to the MMA world. However, it ultimately provided him with new opportunities and challenges.
His move to ONE Championship has shown that fighters can explore new promotions and find success outside of the UFC. Johnson’s legacy in the UFC will not be forgotten. Moreover, his success in ONE Championship has cemented his place as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Johnson was looking for a fresh challenge
Demetrious Johnson, one of the greatest UFC fighters, felt stuck in his career. Despite issues with sponsors, contracts, and promoting himself, he was unable to see any progress at the organization. He was looking for growth in his career and a fresh challenge. ‘Mighty Mouse’ talks about this in a episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.
He said,
“It was frustrating but then at the time I was like I wonder if I could try something different….”
“So why not go on and explore other options right and then the trade talks came in.”
Even the option of fighting Henry Cejudo for the third time was not appealing to Johnson. Regardless of winning or losing the fight, he would still find myself in the same position. He was in search of a new opportunity that would allow him to continue his growth as a fighter.
Ultimately, Johnson’s decision to leave the UFC was driven by his desire for progress and new challenges in his career.
