SUMMARY
- Demetrious Johnson is the one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
- He currently holds the ONE Flyweight MMA Championship.
Many fans continue to ponder ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson’s next move. Some have predicted retirement, while others believe he still has plenty left in the tank to continue his legendary career. One of those latter believers is ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who said timing is everything for the return of “Mighty Mouse.”
Johnson hasn’t competed since successfully defending his World Title at ONE Fight Night 10 last May when ONE Championship ventured to the U.S. for the very first time. The historic opportunity interested Johnson, and Sityodtong believes it’s only a matter of time before they find the right opponent to scratch “Mighty Mouse’s” itch.
“We’ve been trying to get Demetrious a super mixed-rules fight with Mikey Musumeci. I think that would be a spectacular fight,” Sityodtong said. “I think DJ is in cruise control after winning his last World Title fight. When he’s ready, he’ll let us know when he wants to fight again. He hasn’t retired yet, so I think DJ has a few more fights left in him to further cement his GOAT status. He just needs some big challenges, maybe some crazy mixed-rules fights.”
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Johnson hasn’t been seen since defeating former flyweight MMA king Adriano Moraes by unanimous decision in May 2023. Before that, the American megastar collided with ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon in ONE’s inaugural mixed rules super-fight at ONE X in March 2022.
Johnson submitted “The Iron Man” in the second frame by rear-naked choke. The contest is still highly regarded as one of the most interesting bouts ever seen in the world’s largest martial arts organization. And a matchup of that magnitude may just be what DJ needs to reignite his fighting flame.
Could Demetrious Johnson return to ONE Championship in late 2024?
The last time ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson was seen in action was when ONE Championship ventured West to Denver, Colorado’s 1stBank Center in May 2023. Since then, Johnson has been silent regarding his fighting future.
However, ONE Championship is scheduled to return to the U.S. on two occasions later this year. The first instance being on Saturday, 7 September, for ONE Fight Night 26 at Denver’s Ball Arena.
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The second coming on Saturday, 9 November, at Atlanta, Georgia’s State Farm Arena with ONE Fight Night 28. At this point, Johnson has competed all over the world. And the opportunity to fight in the U.S. once more could surely entice him back to the Circle.