Despite retiring from MMA six months ago and not fighting for almost two years, Demetrious Johnson`s name still resonates in the flyweight division. Recently, UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja called him out.
After defeating Kai Asakura at UFC 310, Pantoja declared himself the GOAT and challenged Johnson to return and prove otherwise. Johnson declined the offer, reaffirming his retirement. However, the former UFC champion appreciated Pantoja acknowledging his legacy.
Johnson stated that Pantoja`s callout is a testament to his reputation as one of the sport`s best. He believes people still see him as the flyweight king, even after a two-year absence.
He also noted that Pantoja`s callout generated more attention than his victory over Kai Asakura, increasing social media engagement and fan interest.
Although Johnson has no plans to return to fighting or challenge Pantoja, he praises the current champion`s recent accomplishments.
Pantoja is on a seven-fight winning streak, including three title defenses, leading Johnson to rank him as the top flyweight in the sport currently.
Johnson confidently ranks Pantoja as number one, alongside Kyoji Horiguchi, but emphasizes Pantoja`s victories over higher-caliber opponents.
He highlights Pantoja`s win against Kai Asakura, who previously defeated Horiguchi, and Pantoja`s overall dominance, including a win over Brandon Moreno.
Johnson also discussed the flyweight division at ONE Championship, where Adriano Moraes, who defeated Johnson in 2021, is competing for the vacant title.
Moraes, set to fight Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 172, is vying for the title Johnson vacated upon retirement. However, Johnson distinguishes the ONE Championship flyweight division from the UFC`s 125-pound division.
Due to different weight class structures in ONE Championship to discourage extreme weight cutting, their flyweights compete closer to 135 pounds. Johnson respects Moraes but doesn`t place him in the same flyweight category as Pantoja.
Johnson explains that Moraes competes closer to bantamweight due to the weight difference, while Pantoja cuts weight to make 125 pounds. He compares his own time at ONE Championship at 135 pounds to fighting bantamweights like Aljamain Sterling.
Regardless of weight classes, Johnson gained respect for Moraes after their trilogy, acknowledging the Brazilian`s skill and the challenges he presented.
He describes Moraes as a large and long fighter for the weight class, contrasting him with the shorter fighters Johnson faced in the UFC flyweight division.
Johnson notes the difficulty adjusting to longer fighters like Moraes and Dominick Cruz, highlighting Moraes` size and reach advantage.
Moraes aims to add another title to his collection, while Pantoja awaits his next challenge, looking to surpass Johnson`s records in the UFC.
Johnson is pleased with the success of the 125-pound division in the UFC and ONE Championship. However, he confirms he will not return to defend his past titles.
Johnson emphasizes his contentment in retirement, enjoying time with his family and prioritizing personal fulfillment over fighting.
