Demetrious Johnson 'not officially retired' but says MMA 'is not on my mind right now'
08/27/2024 06:00 PM
Demetrious Johnson isn't officially done with his MMA career, but he might be close.
One of the most accomplished fighters in MMA history, Johnson holds a number of UFC records, including most consecutive title defenses (11), amassed when he ruled the flyweight division from 2012 to 2018. After losing the title to Henry Cejudo at UFC 227, Johnson then got traded to ONE Championship, where he's spent the past six years and is the current flyweight champion. However, Johnson has not competed since winning his trilogy fight against Adriano Moraes back in May of 2023, and apparently "Mighty Mouse" isn't focused on returning any time soon either.
"I always like to leave that door open," Johnson told theJAXXONpodcast. "... You're always going to have that love for mixed martial arts... I'm not officially retired. I'm just saying mixed martial arts is not on my mind right now."
Johnson has been open over the past few years about wanting to pursue other opportunities outside of just MMA, including other combat sports disciplines and special one-offs. But Johnson says that doesn't mean he's done with MMA. For the ONE flyweight champion, it's a matter of the right fight.
"It doesn't mean if something came through, 'Hey man, you want to do this fight?' Sure, why not?" Johnson said. "I still train every day. My weight is still good...
"I don't train MMA. I train martial arts. It's jiu-jitsu. I haven't hit pads in, what - (yesterday) was the second time I hit pads in a year and a half. I can still move. I still have it. I feel like people think when you don't train mixed martial arts you can't do it. It might not be to the highest level, but I can get back to the highest level. So for me, I think when the time does come and I do officially retire, then I'll be more open about, these are the reasons why, I set goals for myself."
