Is Demetrious Johnson ready to make a final decision about the future of his fighting career?
Over the past 16 months, the reigning ONE Championship flyweight champion has considered whether to retire or perhaps return for another fight, but he hasn’t said for sure what will happen. Johnson’s main focus lately has been competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments, building his YouTube channel and continuing to expand his businesses outside of the sport.
He recently said he is not “officially retired” but admitted that MMA is “not on my mind right now.”
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong cannot say for sure what Johnson is planning, but he supports any decision the 38-year-old veteran makes.
“I talked to DJ nine months ago, six months ago, a month ago and said, ‘Hey, the ball is in your court,'” Sityodtong told MMA Fighting. “Whatever you want to do, we support it. Nine months ago he called me, ‘Hey Chatri, I want to try gi-jiu-jitsu, I want to try to compete in the World Masters for brown belts.’ He won that world championship, of course. Last weekend he just competed in the Black Belt Masters and made it to the quarterfinals, which is incredible.
“I mean, think about his resume as a combat athlete. He’s an elite striker, an elite wrestler, an elite jiu-jitsu competitor and obviously the GOAT of mixed martial arts. But he’s 38 and he literally hasn’t fought in 18 months. I’m not pushing him or anything, but the ball is in his court. DJ is in Denver. So let’s see what he says.”
On Friday, ONE Championship lands in Denver for ONE 168, the Singapore-based promotion’s second card in the United States; a third is scheduled for November in Atlanta.
Johnson is expected to attend the event as a special guest and Sityodtong hinted that the former UFC champion may discuss his future during the show.
“I think DJ is in Denver for a reason,” Sityodtong said. “I think people need to ask him why he’s in Denver. Maybe DJ is going to announce the biggest fight of all time or maybe he’s going to retire. I don’t know, but we’ll see.”
Johnson has stated that he will not return to martial arts until the right opportunity presents itself.
Given the long list of accomplishments Johnson already has on his resume, Sityodtong understands why “Mighty Mouse” isn’t really interested in simply facing the next contender for his flyweight title.
That’s why Sityodtong believes it really comes down to finding a specific opponent who will pique Johnson’s interest enough to run again.
“It has to be a really, really big fight that makes a difference,” said Sityodtong. “I don’t think he could just take a normal fight, a normal title defense. It would have to be something really special. Something unique.”
“Something like the special rules fight he did with Rodtang (Jitmuangno), something crazy like that that gives him adrenaline and goosebumps and gets him ready to go.”
On the other hand, Sityodtong cannot argue with Johnson if he ultimately decides to end his career and retire with the record-breaking resume he has built since his debut in 2006.
Johnson is the longest-reigning champion of any UFC division with 11 consecutive title defenses, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his accomplishments.
He also won the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix title and then became ONE Flyweight Champion with a stunning knockout of Adriano Moraes to avenge his own loss to the Brazilian from the previous year. Johnson has done pretty much everything he ever wanted to do, so Sityodtong understands if he just wants to hang up his gloves for good.
“The thing is, he’s been through everything,” Sityodtong said. “He’s been through everything and he’s been in the two biggest organizations in the world. He’s conquered the mountain of the UFC and he’s conquered the mountain of ONE. He’s the only person who’s done that, which is just incredible.”
“He’s almost like those old Ronin warriors who travel around the world and fight everyone to prove they’re the best. He’s very special. We all know DJ is very special.”
