Demetrious Johnson fought the most effective fighters the east and the west had to supply.
The best flyweight of all time is the one fighter in history to carry titles in each the UFC and ONE Championship. Johnson was traded to the Singapore-based ONE Championship for Ben Askren in 2018, with the American ending out the ultimate chapter of his profession on the opposite side of the world.
Johnson went 15-2-1 within the UFC Octagon and only lost once in ONE Championship across six fights.
Retired as of last 12 months, Johnson gives his tackle each worlds.
Demetrious Johnson says America has more athletes, Asia has more ‘true martial artists’
On The Easy Man Podcast, Johnson was asked what difference he felt between fighting in America and Asia.
“I assumed in America they’re more athletes,” Johnson explained.
“In Asia, I felt like they’re more like true martial artists,” Johnson continued.
“Once I take a look at Yuya Wakamatsu, I’m sure he’s done it as a child, some kind of type of martial arts. Tatsumitsu Wada, Danny Kingad, Adriano Moraes… he did jiu-jitsu when he was a child.
“Where, if you’re within the UFC, I fought Joseph Benavidez, John Dodson, those guys were athletes in highschool, wrestling.
“So even for me, I used to be a wrestler. I began wrestling in highschool, so I wasn’t starting, I didn’t start till I used to be like in eighth grade. So, you consider all that development…”
Other fighters have come near championships in UFC and ONE
Johnson won the UFC flyweight title in 2012 and held onto it until he lost to Henry Cejudo by split decision at UFC 227 in 2018.
Johnson won the ONE Flyweight Championship against Adriano Moraes 4 years later.
Former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez tried to perform the feat himself, but ‘The Underground King’ struggled to realize momentum within the promotion and never got a title opportunity.
Former ONE and Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren made it to the highest 5 of the UFC and was on the cusp of a title fight before he was ultimately knocked out by Jorge Masvidal with a flying knee in five seconds at UFC 235 in 2019.