Demetrious Johnson
The greatest flyweight mixed martial artist of all time.
Last updated
He was the inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion with a record of 11 consecutive title defenses.[1] Many observers, including UFC personnel and media outlets, consider Johnson to be among the very best mixed martial artists ever.[2]
Key facts and history
In 2004 he placed 2nd at 119lbs in the state wrestling tournament, and in 2005 he placed 3rd at 119lbs.[3] He compiled a final amateur record of 9–0.[4] Johnson made his World Extreme Cagefighting debut on April 24, 2010, at WEC 48 against Brad Pickett.[5] On October 28, 2010, the WEC merged with the UFC, and all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[6]
He set the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses with 11, surpassing Anderson Silva's record of 10.[7][8] He became the ONE Flyweight Champion in August 2022 by defeating Adriano Moraes via knockout.[9] Johnson's initial involvement in MMA was as a pastime, and his first amateur contest occurred in 2006, which he won by a first-round knockout.[10] During ONE 168 on September 6, 2024, Johnson declared his retirement from the sport.[11]
At UFC Fight Night 271 on March 28, 2026, Johnson was revealed as an inductee into the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.[12]
What the cited sources add
A CBSSports.com account of Johnson's UFC 216 win states that he set a UFC record by eclipsing Anderson Silva for his 11th title defense.[8] The same source describes Johnson finishing the fight with a suplex-to-armbar transition, after which Borg tapped.[8] The CBSSports.com article notes that Johnson was already considered by most to be the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter.[8]
References
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "UFC 216 results: Demetrious Johnson sets title defense record with brutal submission.", CBSSports.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship, "UFC 191: Johnson vs Dodson 2 – Extended Preview", August 25, 2015; Homistek, "Anderson Silva: Demetrious Johnson Is The Greatest Fighter Of All Time", flocombat.com, 18 January 2018; Homistek, "5 reasons why Demetrious Johnson is the greatest MMA fighter of all time", sportskeeda.com, 31 October 2017; Khanna, "Joe Rogan Reiterates Stance on Demetrious Johnson Being the Greatest MMA Fighter of All Time", essentiallysports.com, 24 August 2021; Middenhall, "Dana White: 'It's hard not to call Demetr en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mike Renouard, "WEC Pre-fight Interview with Demetrious Johnson", nwfightscene.com, April 14, 2010 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Demetrious Johnson", Sherdog (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Brad Pickett vs. newcomer Demetrious Johnson official for WEC 48 prelims", MMAJunkie.com, March 12, 2010 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "UFC and WEC set to merge in 2011; events to air on Versus and Spike TV", mmajunkie.com, October 28, 2010; "Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto Signs With UFC; Debuts Against Demetrious Johnson In February", Mmaweekly.com | Ufc and Mma News, Results, Rumors, and Videos, December 10, 2010; "【UFC126】KID判定負け、UFCデビュー戦は厳しい船出に", mmaplanet.jp (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ariel Helwani, "Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg UFC 215 main event canceled", mmafighting.com, September 8, 2017; Shaun Al-Shatti, "Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg rebooked for UFC 216", mmafighting.com, September 13, 2017; "UFC 216 results: Insane Demetrious Johnson armbar forces Ray Borg tap in fifth round", MMAjunkie, October 8, 2017; "UFC 216 bonuses: Demetrious Johnson's late finish became his eighth UFC fight-night bonus", MMAjunkie, October 8, 2017; "UFC 216 results: Demetrious Johnson sets title defense record with brutal sub en.wikipedia.org
- "UFC 216 results: Demetrious Johnson sets title defense record with brutal submission.", CBSSports.com. facts only, no text reused. cbssports.com
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Baldwin, "Report: Adriano Moraes-Demetrious Johnson rematch booked for August", The Score, June 3, 2022; Dewar, "ONE on Prime Video: Mighty Knee Sees Demetrious Johnson Finish Adriano Moraes", Cageside Press, 2022-08-27; Bear Frazer, "Chatri Sityodtong Awards 5 Performance Bonuses At ONE On Prime Video 1", ONE Championship – The Home of Martial Arts, 2022-08-27 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "UFC champ Demetrious Johnson coach Matt Hume on creating a perfect martial artist", mmajunkie.com, September 3, 2015 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Lee, "Demetrious Johnson announces retirement at ONE 168", MMA Fighting, 2024-09-06; "Demetrious Johnson announces MMA retirement; becomes first ONE Championship Hall of Famer", MMA Junkie, 2024-09-07 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Demetrious Johnson" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bohn, "Demetrious Johnson joins 2026 UFC Hall of Fame", MMA Junkie (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Demetrious Johnson (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Demetrious Johnson (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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