On Friday night, Demetrious Johnson retired from football in his hometown of Denver, Colorado.

The former UFC flyweight champion, who joined ONE Championship in 2018 in trade for Ben Askren, made the tearful announcement at Ball Arena during ONE 168. During his time at ONE, Johnson won the promotion’s bantamweight grand prix and title.

Johnson, 38, finished his MMA career with a record of 25-4-1 and was the first ONE inductee into the promotion’s Hall of Fame.

Here’s a look at Johnson’s emotional farewell speech:

After becoming the promotion’s first champion in the 125-pound division, Johnson dominated the UFC’s flyweight division.

He held the title for nearly six years before losing it to Henry Cejudo in 2018 in a rematch of their 2016 fight, where Mighty Mouse stopped the former Olympian in the first round. After the loss to Cejudo, the UFC traded Johnson to ONE in a historic business deal for welterweight champion Askren.

The futures of both fighters changed drastically in their new promotions. While Johnson suffered the only stoppage loss of his career to Adriano Moraes in April 2021, Mighty Mouse avenged the loss with a stoppage win over the Brazilian in 2022 and another win over him in 2023.

Askren’s MMA career ended after just three fights in the UFC.

He defeated Robbie Lawler in his promotional debut, but was brutally knocked down by Jorge Masvidal with a flying knee in five seconds in 2019 and defeated by Demian Maia three months later. Askren tried his hand at boxing against Jake Paul in April 2021, but suffered another brutal one-punch knockout.

Askren has not competed in any combat sports since then. There were rumors that the UFC was negotiating with ONE for a fight between Mighty Mouse and its current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, but that turned out to be pure internet speculation as nothing ever came of it.

Check out some of Johnson’s accomplishments throughout his professional career, which began as an amateur in 2006.

First UFC flyweight championship title

Johnson is the first UFC flyweight champion. He won the title in 2012 by defeating Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152. Johnson defeated Benavidez by knockout in a rematch a year later.

11 consecutive UFC flyweight title defenses

Johnson set the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. During his six-year reign as champion, he defended his title a whopping 11 times. He could argue that he is the greatest champion in UFC history.

Longest reigning UFC champion

Johnson’s 2,142-day reign as UFC flyweight champion is the longest in promotion history.

Mighty Mouses Contribution of the Year (2017)

Some called it the “submission of the year,” others called it the “mousetrap.” I call it the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen anyone do in a mixed martial arts fight. Johnson’s submission win over Ray Borg in 2017 was straight out of a video game, and it’s another milestone in Johnson’s legacy.

A winner of the Grand Prix in the flyweight category (2019)

Johnson won the ONE Championship Flyweight Grand Prix, cementing his reputation as the greatest in his weight class in two contests. The weight classes are a little different in ONE, but Johnson showed his true greatness by shining in a different situation. He also became the first and only fighter to become world champion in both the UFC and ONE.

ONE inducted Mighty Mouse into its Hall of Fame on Friday.

It would be a shame if the UFC didn’t follow suit soon. There has never been a fighter more deserving of this double honor.