I seriously think that DJ could run through the FLW division now

[filthybliss]

He is close to 40 but he seems to show no state of decline. Pantoja is an excellent grappler but I think DJ can use it against him. If Pantoja can't grab a submission, I doubt he would be able to maintain top control on DJ like he did with Erceg. DJ is too much of threat on the ground and Pantoja's striking will not overwhelm him either.

 

[RockyLockridge]

No doubt. Pantoja is an easy easy match up for Johnson. I'd take him off the couch right now to win.

I think they only flyweight that would have given him trouble since he's been gone is Figgy. The rest of them lose to Johnson soundly

 

[filthybliss]

No doubt. Pantoja is an easy easy match up for Johnson. I'd take him off the couch right now to win.

I think they only flyweight that would have given him trouble since he's been gone is Figgy. The rest of them lose to Johnson soundly

damn, you don't think moreno or royval would be a threat at all either? how would they square against moraes?

 

[don't ask]

I agree. I also think John Dodson could come back and do some damage to the division.

 

[Shay Brennan]

DJ is simply too well rounded for any FLW to really beat.
He-s great everywhere which is very rare.

He has beaten every FLW he has ever fought and should be undefeated at that division.
Not to mention he gave prime Cruz a tough fight and recently beat much bigger competition in One FC despite being old for that weight.

Prime DJ beats every FLW fighter that existed. Simple as that.

 

[HHJ]

would love to see him have these fresh matchups now

 

[BigMuffler]

Possibly but old age is a bitch, prime DJ yes

 

[EndlessCritic]

The UFC lost a lot of legitimacy when they let DJ leave.

It's one thing when a guy like Ngannou is making unreasonable demands. The UFC just decided with DJ they didn't want one of the best fighters in the world.

 

[filthybliss]

DJ is simply too well rounded for any FLW to really beat.
He-s great everywhere which is very rare.

He has beaten every FLW he has ever fought and should be undefeated at that division.
Not to mention he gave prime Cruz a tough fight and recently beat much bigger competition in One FC despite being old for that weight.

Prime DJ beats every FLW fighter that existed. Simple as that.

Prime DJ smokes em is the consensus. DJ beating them at 40 is more debatable.

Also when he fought Dom, he was working part time in construction lol

 

[filthybliss]

The UFC lost a lot of legitimacy when they let DJ leave.

It's one thing when a guy like Ngannou is making unreasonable demands. The UFC just decided with DJ they didn't want one of the best fighters in the world.

Ngannou sells more tickets, I guess was their reasoning behind it. Dana never cared about the best fighters, his goat list attests to that.

 

[filthybliss]

would love to see him have these fresh matchups now

the division needs him lowk, erceg was #10 ranked and he was the only guy that they could pluck for pantoja

 

[Safton]

In his prime I'd pick him against all these guys. At his current age I think he'd be a solid Top 10ish -- potentially even Top 5 -- but the chances of him taking Ls against at least some of the roster are pretty legitimate. He would be making the full cut to 125 again, he is visibly just a tad slower than at his peak, and while he certainly doesn't come across as chinny I don't know that he takes shots in quite the same way he used to. Plus the wear & tear of so many camps and fights... the sport isn't kind to dudes his age, especially at this weight class.

I wouldn't be blown away to see him beat Pantoja or whoever just because he is that goddamn talented and the stylistic match-up is a pretty decent one, but I'm also not convinced he cleans house and is unassailable against the current roster at his current age.

 

[ticho123]

The UFC lost a lot of legitimacy when they let DJ leave.

It's one thing when a guy like Ngannou is making unreasonable demands. The UFC just decided with DJ they didn't want one of the best fighters in the world.

And they were so bad at hyping him. It's like I see more stuff about DJ now than when he was a dominant UFC champ. FlW is too small to ever be the most popular division, but two of the UFC's biggest stars in modern times have been a featherweight and a woman so there's no way a flyweight couldn't be at least reasonably popular

 

[svmr_db]

I think DJ said he can't make flyweight anymore.

(He's fighting at 135 with their strange hydration rules in ONE)

 

[IronGolem007]

The UFC lost a lot of legitimacy when they let DJ leave.

It's one thing when a guy like Ngannou is making unreasonable demands. The UFC just decided with DJ they didn't want one of the best fighters in the world.

Agree. Even those called GOATS (GSP/Jones) acknowledge how great Demetrius Johnson was/is, especially in his prime.

 

[RockyLockridge]

damn, you don't think moreno or royval would be a threat at all either? how would they square against moraes?

Royval is my favourite flyweight currently, but he has no power, he could maybe decision mighty mouse on volume. amazing cardio though.

Moreno is weaker everywhere but he does have size. I think they'd be a threat, but I think mightmouse would navigate them masterfully.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I agree. I also think John Dodson could come back and do some damage to the division.

he was a b-b-b-beast of a flyweight in his time.

 

[Johnnny]

It's one thing when a guy like Ngannou is making unreasonable demands. The UFC just decided with DJ they didn't want one of the best fighters in the world.

The UFC was in a difficult spot. DJ was the opposite of a draw. Every time that he headlined a PPV, it ended up being one of lowest-selling since 2005. When he headlined cards on FOX, it was reported that the ratings were horribly low. So when DJ started demanding over a million dollars to fight, it didn't make financial sense for the UFC.

 

[jeff7b9]

I think DJ said he can't make flyweight anymore.

(He's fighting at 135 with their strange hydration rules in ONE)

OneFC Hydration testing is a verified joke, verified from a doctor who has literally worked for hire coaching OneFC fighters how to easily beat the test.

DJ looked WILDLY undersized in his ONE matches.

 

[filthybliss]

Royval is my favourite flyweight currently, but he has no power, he could maybe decision mighty mouse on volume. amazing cardio though.

Moreno is weaker everywhere but he does have size. I think they'd be a threat, but I think mightmouse would navigate them masterfully.

I reckon that DJ could submit him if Pantoja managed to, DJ hung around with Rodtang in Muay Thai (not exactly MMA striking) but that should count for something in the strking exchange. I don't see Royval spacing himself for long enough to jab to a decision.