MMA retirements often times don’t last. Nonetheless, Demetrious Johnson is for certain his is definite.
The vast majority of retirements in combat sports, and particularly MMA, after seemingly taken with a grain of salt. The celebrity, potential for financial upside, glory and competition have steadily led to athletes picking the gloves back up after putting them down. Johnson, a former UFC and ONE Championship titleholder, hasn’t once contemplated making a comeback to MMA since he announced to the the world that he was done in September.
“There’s no point to it,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio. “There’s got to be a time limit when it’s like, ‘OK, when is it enough?’ I felt that after the Adriano (Moraes) fight, that is the top. I used to be UFC champion, I used to be a ONE Championship champion, there’s nothing else for me to prove here. What, earn more money?”
Although Johnson made his announcement lower than seven months ago, he had already been out of motion for well over a 12 months prior to that in a title defense against Moraes. He knew he was done long before sharing it with the world.
In recent month, many fans have clamored for Johnson to compete. Current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja called him out after his most up-to-date defense in December, but to not avail.
Johnson, 38, said quite a few offers to compete again have come his way, but there’s been nothing that’s even barely tempting.
“Nope, under no circumstances,” Johnson said. “I’ve had offers are available. I’ve had great offers, had just a few offers are available, and I’m like, ‘No, I’m good,’ because I feel I attempt to be a person of my word. I told myself that I used to be never going to take a fight to earn a living. Those days of using my body to earn a living are over. I’m not going to sign a contract and go fight.”
Johnson is taken into account by many as considered one of the best MMA fighters of all time. He still holds the record for many consecutive UFC title defenses at 11.
“Mighty Mouse” said he’s firm stance on retirement, and it’s made all of the less difficult because he has financial stability. Not only from his fighting profession, but from the lines of revenue he created along the best way and his growing brand as an analyst and YouTube personality.
Furthermore, Johnson emphasizes above all that his decision was never made in haste, so in his mind, any road back to MMA is inconceivable to unwind.
“I feel it was necessary for me to take that point,” Johnson said. “I feel as an expert athlete in mixed martial arts, you never know when it’s the proper time relating to mixed martial arts. Like, ‘Oh, man. This guy is on an eight-fight winning streak, what’s left for him to do? Should he carry on fighting to earn a living? Should he retire?’ For me, I knew after that Adriano fight in Denver, Colorado, I used to be like, ‘Oh, man. Is that this all my life is supposed to be? Just carry on fighting over and all over again and go to the press conference?’
“So I used to be like, ‘You realize what? I’m going to see if I can have the opportunity to sustain, earn a living without getting punched within the face.’ So I gave myself a 12 months to see if I used to be going to miss it, miss the press conference, miss fighting, miss competing. And as time went on, I fell in love with competing in jiu-jitsu with the gi and I began constructing the YouTube and commenced doing the Mighty Solid, and doing various things and dealing on different businesses, I used to be like, ‘Man, I actually don’t miss it.’ I didn’t wish to delay the division as well.”
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