Demetrious Johnson Lets The Combat Sports Community Decide His Legacy

Mixed martial arts legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will get another opportunity to add another MMA World Title to his impressive collection.

But for that feat to happen, he has to defeat old foe and ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes in their rematch at ONE Fight Night 1 on Saturday, 27 August, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

The AMC Pankration and Evolve MMA representative isn’t focusing on the ONE World Title at steak. He wants to enter the ONE Circle and give his best against Moraes to prove to himself that he can overcome the challenge in front of him.

“For me, winning the title will cement my legacy. But I want to let the community decide what my legacy is. Everybody says, ‘Man, you’re the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Johnson said during the press conference for ONE Fight Night 1 at The Novo in Los Angeles, California. 

“I don’t think that. I get beat up at the gym all the time from my coach. But for me, it’s just going out there and trying to win a title and add it to my collection.”

Payback will also be on Johnson’s mind, especially since Moraes handed him the first knockout loss of his career at “ONE on TNT I” in April of last year. The Brazilian phenom caught him with a knee to the head that signified the beginning of the end of that contest. This time, Johnson will pick his spots to avoid the same fate.

ALSO READ | Rematch With Adriano Moraes Will Define MMA Future of Demetrious Johnson

“It’s no stranger that he likes to use his movement to have his opponents overextend to him and catch them, how he caught me last time. So this time, I have to pull myself back because, as a person, I train for eight to ten weeks. I want to get in there and fight. So, I’ll take my time and see where it goes,” Johnson said.

Aside from the Moraes versus Johnson rematch at ONE Fight Night 1, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao will defend his belt against Liam Harrison. ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon will also compete in the semifinals of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix against Savvas Michael. And former ONE World Champion Jonathan Haggerty will face Amir Naseri in the tournament’s alternate fight.

Watch the lead card of ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II on Disney+ Hotstar at 5:30 a.m. India Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, August 27. Meanwhile, the main card will follow on Disney+ Hotstar at 7:30 a.m. IST. You can also purchase tickets to watch the fights live through this link.

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