One of the UFC’s greatest all-time greats has retired, and demetrious Johnson has announced that he will leave the sport as “champion.”
demetrious Johnson retires
The 38-year-old is considered one of the best fighters ever, so demeTrious Johnson will one day become the UFC Hall of Fame.
Johnson managed to defend his flyweight title 11 total times before losing his belt in 2018, but his winning streak is one of the longest in UFC history.
After announcing his retirement, Johnson said he was happy to leave the sport as the champion who won his last match in home soil in 2023.
“They wanted me to have a belt here, but I haven’t,” Johnson said. “I came to champion this sport and left as a champion.”
Demetrious Johnson announced his retirement from MMA on Friday night.
Absolute legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/r34qiixxrg
– ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 7, 2024
Johnson has a UFC record of 27 wins, three losses and one draw, as he concludes his career at UFC 227 in 2018, with the Mighty Mouse, with a UFC record of 27 wins, three losses and one draw.
Despite leaving the UFC over five years ago, Johnson still holds countless records in the flyweight division, including most wins, most finishes and the longest winning streak (13).
Dana White responded to Johnson’s retirement over the weekend despite having a calm relationship with the former flyweight champion while at the UFC.
“If I could go back when he was here (in the UFC), I would have protected him from the fans,” White said.
“Who defended Johnson, who is more demetredious than me? Yeah, no, that’s good for him. He had an incredible career.
White admitted in 2017 that Johnson’s PPV card never pulled in as much money as he wanted. That’s why fans have questioned his reaction to his flyweight star retirement.
