- Joined
- Nov 8, 2015
- Messages
- 11,802
- Reaction score
- 46,982
Demetrious Johnson has moved on from the UFC's flyweight division just as much as it has moved on from him.
The UFC's 125-pound weight class took center stage last week, in a way it never did during Johnson's six-year reign as champion. Henry Cejudo defended the title against TJ Dillashaw on the UFC's first event on ESPN, and both athletes were promoted heavily beforehand.
Meanwhile, Johnson, who parted ways with the UFC for Asia-based promotion One Championship months ago, spent all of last week in Japan, filming promotional material for One. He says he didn't have any thoughts about his old division moving on, other than joy for Cejudo.
Johnson (27-3-1) will make his One debut against Yuya Wakamatsu (10-3) March 31 in Tokyo, at an event fittingly titled "A New Era." The card will also feature former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
Few would blame Johnson if he were to feel bitter toward his old home. He was the flyweight division from 2012-18, defending the belt a UFC-record 11 times. None of those fights seemed to resonate with the public, however, as much as Cejudo's did on Saturday.
But Johnson, 32, said he is completely content with how things unfolded -- and it doesn't hurt that he is exactly where he wants to be. Many of his favorite MMA fighters growing up -- Fedor Emelianenko, Quinton Jackson, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, Mirko Cro Cop -- rose to prominence in Asia.
Johnson didn't even catch the fight live in Japan, but he learned the result from his wife shortly after it ended.
For the record, he and Cejudo are 1-1 against each other. Johnson knocked him out in 2016, and Cejudo evened the score with a split decision in August. Johnson says he'd never rule out a third meeting, but it would have to take place in Asia -- where he's happy.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/...y-henry-cejudo-flyweights-focused-new-chapter
The UFC's 125-pound weight class took center stage last week, in a way it never did during Johnson's six-year reign as champion. Henry Cejudo defended the title against TJ Dillashaw on the UFC's first event on ESPN, and both athletes were promoted heavily beforehand.
Meanwhile, Johnson, who parted ways with the UFC for Asia-based promotion One Championship months ago, spent all of last week in Japan, filming promotional material for One. He says he didn't have any thoughts about his old division moving on, other than joy for Cejudo.
Johnson (27-3-1) will make his One debut against Yuya Wakamatsu (10-3) March 31 in Tokyo, at an event fittingly titled "A New Era." The card will also feature former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
Few would blame Johnson if he were to feel bitter toward his old home. He was the flyweight division from 2012-18, defending the belt a UFC-record 11 times. None of those fights seemed to resonate with the public, however, as much as Cejudo's did on Saturday.
But Johnson, 32, said he is completely content with how things unfolded -- and it doesn't hurt that he is exactly where he wants to be. Many of his favorite MMA fighters growing up -- Fedor Emelianenko, Quinton Jackson, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, Mirko Cro Cop -- rose to prominence in Asia.
Johnson didn't even catch the fight live in Japan, but he learned the result from his wife shortly after it ended.
For the record, he and Cejudo are 1-1 against each other. Johnson knocked him out in 2016, and Cejudo evened the score with a split decision in August. Johnson says he'd never rule out a third meeting, but it would have to take place in Asia -- where he's happy.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/...y-henry-cejudo-flyweights-focused-new-chapter
