“I’m not afraid of it” - Demetrious Johnson at peace with his career nearing its end
Demetrious Johnson understands that it takes a highly mature fighter to admit that they won't be able to compete forever. Many athletes refuse to accept this concept and will often fight well beyond their prime years, thus taking unnecessary damage.
'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson is not one of these fighters. The American athlete fully recognizes that his career is coming to an end and he is at peace with this idea.
While speaking in an interview with Joe Rogan, Johnson explained:
"This is the home stretch, I’m not afraid of it. I’m smiling at it, because at some point you have to stop, you have to, you just have to as an athlete. If my body recovered like when I was 26, then yeah, I can see myself going for another 10 to 15 years. But sh*t, my shin still hurts from kicking Adriano [Moraes] in August."
After such a storied and decorated career, 'Mighty Mouse' can look back fondly on his incredible legacy when he does choose to hang up his gloves.
Johnson has cemented himself as one of the all-time greats in MMA with his divisional flyweight world title and Grand Prix championship in ONE, plus having set the record for the most consecutive world title defenses in UFC history.
What was YOUR reaction to that Demetrious Johnson knockout? 🤯
@MightyMouse @MightyWife #ONEonPrimeVideo1 #ONEChampionship https://t.co/ekXmhwYBYT
Demetrious Johnson on his ONE flyweight world championship win
'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson unsurpisingly doesn't have the recovery speed he once did.
He defeated his rival Adriano Moraes this past August with an incredible flying-knee knockout. While speaking with Rogan, 'Mighty Mouse' explained that he is still recovering from the fight.
Demetrious Johnson is just too fast 💨
@MightyMouse #ONEX #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship https://t.co/6ojrTBcgVs
Discussing the bout itself, Johnson noted that avenging a loss against someone who knocked him out the previous year was crucial for his confidence:
“It was fun just exchanging with him, and I think having this fight was good for my career and good for my confidence, to come off a loss against Adriano [Moraes] then come back and fight another tough striker.”
'Mighty Mouse' also offered a breakdown of the incredible knockout:
"The distance control, following him, knowing the cage was coming, and just giving everything I had into it. It doesn’t get any better than that. That’s like picture-perfect ... If you look at the slow-mo, I’m in the southpaw position, I’m on the outside lead leg, landing at my left knee in milliseconds. You’re playing with windows of opportunity that are opening and closing like that.”
Fans can enjoy the clash of kings between Demetrious Johnson and Adriano Moraes below: