Demetrious Johnson's professional fighting record overview and career highlights
- kennyherrholz
- Apr 30, 2025
- 9 min read
Demetrious Johnson, known as "Mighty Mouse," is one of the most respected fighters in mixed martial arts. He has built a reputation through years of consistent performance and technical skill. Demetrious Johnson holds an impressive professional MMA record of 33 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw; this record makes him stand out among flyweights and other competitors in the sport.
Fans of MMA may remember Johnson for his long reign as the UFC Flyweight Champion, where he became known for his speed, technique, and adaptability. He has also found success in other promotions, such as ONE Championship, facing some of the top fighters from around the world.
His journey spans many unforgettable fights and historic moments, making him a major name in both the UFC and global MMA. Whether he is defending his belt or challenging himself in new leagues, Johnson's achievements continue to leave a mark on the sport.
Key Takeaways
Demetrious Johnson has an outstanding MMA record.
He is recognized for his championship reigns and memorable fights.
Johnson remains influential in the world of mixed martial arts.
Demetrious Johnson's Fighting Record Overview
Demetrious Johnson is known for his skill, consistency, and dominance in mixed martial arts. He has competed at the highest levels in both the UFC and ONE Championship and has established a reputation for excellence in the flyweight division.
Career Statistics
Demetrious Johnson has built an impressive professional record. As of 2025, he has achieved 27 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw in mixed martial arts. The majority of his victories come by decision, showing his technical skill and stamina. He also has notable wins by both knockout and submission.
Here is a quick breakdown of his record:
Knockout wins: 5
Submission wins: 8
Decision wins: 14
Knockout losses: 1
Decision losses: 2
Draws: 1
He has fought world-class competitors throughout his career and is respected for his smart, skillful fighting style. Johnson's career details can be viewed on his UFC stats page and his ESPN fighter profile.
Weight Classes Competed
Demetrious Johnson has competed in both the bantamweight and flyweight divisions. Most of his success came after moving to flyweight, where he found the best match for his speed, technique, and endurance.
He first competed in the bantamweight (135 lbs) division but switched to flyweight (125 lbs) when the UFC created the division. At flyweight, Johnson's skills stood out even more. He quickly became the face of the division, defending his title multiple times and rarely being outclassed.
Fighting in these two divisions allowed Johnson to face a range of opponents. His agility and adaptability helped him excel against both bigger and smaller fighters. This flexibility has been a key part of his long and successful career.
Notable Achievements
Demetrious Johnson is best known as the dominant UFC Flyweight Champion. He was the inaugural champion of the division and held the belt from 2012 to 2018. Johnson set a record for 11 title defenses—the most in UFC history for a single title at the time.
Later, Johnson moved to compete in ONE Championship. There, he continued to impress by winning the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix and capturing the ONE Flyweight Title. His technical mastery, athleticism, and sportsmanship have led many to consider him among the greatest of all time.
Throughout his career, Johnson has earned praise for his well-rounded martial arts skills, including striking, grappling, and submissions. He has also inspired many fighters and fans through his approach to preparation, competition, and respect for the sport.
UFC Career Highlights
Demetrious Johnson became known for his speed, technical skill, and dominance in the UFC Flyweight division. He set records for the most title defenses and fought many of the top contenders in his weight class.
Rise to UFC Flyweight Champion
Johnson entered the UFC Flyweight tournament in 2012 to crown the first champion for the division. He first fought Ian McCall and then won a rematch to reach the finals. In September 2012, he faced Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152.
He won the fight by split decision, earning the title of inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion. His quick movement and smart tactics made him stand out as a champion. Johnson became the main figure in the new flyweight division.
This win showed his ability to fight during high-pressure moments. The flyweight title soon became strongly linked to his name.
Successful Title Defenses in UFC
Johnson set a UFC record by defending his flyweight title 11 times, the most in the division’s history. He fought top contenders such as John Dodson, John Moraga, and Ali Bagautinov. His style combined speed, accuracy, and creative submissions.
Some title defenses were especially impressive. For example, he submitted Ray Borg with a suplex-armbar combo, a move rarely seen in MMA. This streak lasted from 2012 until 2018, showing his consistency and skill at the highest level.
Johnson’s run included wins over Henry Cejudo and Kyoji Horiguchi. His dominance made him known as one of the best flyweight fighters in UFC history.
Memorable UFC Fights
Many of Johnson’s fights became well known for their technique and excitement. His two bouts with John Dodson were fast-paced and close, testing his ability to adapt. Johnson’s fight with Henry Cejudo was also key, as he won by decision the first time.
He faced tough challenges, such as losing to Dominick Cruz at bantamweight before his title run at flyweight. His loss to Cejudo in a rematch ended his long title reign but proved the level of competition in the division.
Johnson also trained with some of the best and always pushed himself against top talent. His UFC journey included both championship victories and tough battles against elite opponents.
ONE Championship Career
Demetrious Johnson joined ONE Championship after a successful run in the UFC. He faced strong competition, earned a major tournament win, and fought key rivals for the flyweight title.
Transition to ONE
In 2019, Demetrious Johnson made his debut in ONE Championship. His move was highly discussed because he was leaving the UFC as a former flyweight champion. Johnson’s first fight in ONE took place at the ONE Championship: A New Era event in Tokyo. He faced Yuya Wakamatsu in the opening round of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.
Johnson won the fight by submission, showing his skill and experience. He adjusted quickly to the different rules and environment. The tournament style in ONE was different from what he experienced in the UFC, but he adapted without major issues.
His transition was seen as a test of how top fighters from the UFC would perform in another major organization. Johnson proved he could compete at a high level across the world.
ONE Flyweight Title Journey
After winning his first fight, Johnson continued through the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. He won each of his tournament bouts, defeating Tatsumitsu Wada and Danny Kingad. These wins made him the first ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix champion.
With this success, Johnson earned a shot at the ONE Flyweight Title. He challenged Adriano Moraes, who was already known as a skilled and powerful champion. Their fights took place at high-profile events, including ONE 168 in Denver.
Johnson lost their first fight by knockout, which marked the first time he had been finished in his MMA career. He later won the rematch by decision, showing his ability to learn and improve. Their series became one of the highlights of Johnson’s time in ONE.
Key Rivalries in ONE
Johnson’s main rivalry in ONE Championship has been with Adriano Moraes. They fought a trilogy, with the title changing hands more than once. Each fight in their series was highly anticipated and delivered exciting moments.
The first meeting set a record because Johnson was stopped for the first time. In the second fight, Johnson made adjustments and won the flyweight title. Their third fight was another close contest, showing the high skill of both athletes.
Other notable opponents in his ONE run include Yuya Wakamatsu and Tatsumitsu Wada, but the focus remained on Johnson’s clashes with Moraes. These matches added to his legacy and proved his standing among the world’s best flyweights.
For more information about Demetrious Johnson’s ONE Championship career, see his official athlete page.
Significant Fights and Results
Demetrious Johnson’s career features a mix of championship victories and closely contested losses. He faced top opponents around the world and had several notable results in both the UFC and ONE Championship.
Historic Wins
Johnson achieved several landmark wins that defined his legacy at flyweight and beyond. He became the first UFC Flyweight Champion and set the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses. Notably, his victory over Ray Borg in October 2017 came by submission with a rare suplex-to-armbar transition, a move that showcased his technical skill.
His success continued internationally after joining ONE Championship. He avenged an earlier loss by defeating Adriano Moraes on May 5, 2023, capturing the ONE Flyweight World Championship and proving he could compete against elite fighters from different organizations.
Across his career, Johnson had many decision wins, reflecting his ability to control fights over five rounds. His combination of speed, grappling, and striking gave him victories against well-known athletes, including Joseph Benavidez, Kyoji Horiguchi, and John Dodson. See more details about his record and fight history at UFC Stats.
Challenging Losses
Though highly successful, Johnson faced setbacks against some of the sport’s best. His most prominent loss in the UFC came by split decision to Henry Cejudo in 2018, which ended his historic title reign. The fight was close, with judges split, and remains one of the more debated decisions in flyweight history.
Another significant loss occurred in ONE Championship, where he was knocked out by Adriano Moraes in April 2021. This marked the first KO loss in Johnson’s career and highlighted the dangers that come with moving between organizations and rule sets.
Despite these defeats, Johnson never suffered extended losing streaks. His resilience and ability to rebound from each setback have helped him remain one of the best in the sport. For a detailed list of fights, victories, and defeats, visit his Tapology profile.
Legacy and Impact on MMA
Demetrious Johnson is known for his technical skill, long title reigns, and his influence on the flyweight division. He is widely discussed by analysts and fans when talking about the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts.
Hall of Fame Induction
Demetrious Johnson’s career achievements have set him apart in the world of sports. His skills, discipline, and championship mindset have earned him a place as one of the sport’s legends. Johnson’s long reign as UFC flyweight champion, with a record 11 consecutive title defenses, highlighted his dominance and consistency against the division’s best athletes.
Many fans and experts expect Johnson will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Induction is often seen as an official recognition of his legendary status. Fighters who reach this level of success become inspirations for younger athletes and help shape the future of their sport.
Johnson’s Hall of Fame-worthy achievements include:
12 MMA world titles across organizations
30-4 professional record
Technical submission wins and top-level striking
Leading the UFC flyweight division from its earliest days
A Hall of Fame induction would celebrate these milestones and his major role in the UFC’s history.Learn more about his career accolades and legendary status at Fan Arch.
Influence on Flyweight Division
Johnson was the first UFC flyweight champion, setting the standard for future fighters in the 125-pound division. His time as champion made the flyweight class more popular, giving more athletes a chance to compete on the big stage. Before his run, flyweights did not get much attention in the UFC or other major organizations.
Johnson brought fast-paced, technical striking, and impressive grappling to the spotlight. Many of his fights became examples of high-level skill and strategy. He pushed others to improve training methods and raise their own skills to match his level.
Because of Johnson, the flyweight division gained respect.
Retirement and Future Endeavors
Demetrious Johnson decided to retire after a long and successful career in mixed martial arts. He left professional competition but made it clear that his passion for martial arts and training would continue in other ways.
Retirement Announcement
Demetrious Johnson officially revealed his retirement from mixed martial arts at the age of 38. His decision came after years as a champion in both the UFC and ONE Championship. Johnson finished with a strong professional record of 25 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. He is widely respected for holding the record for most successful consecutive UFC title defenses with 11.
In interviews, Johnson explained his reasons for stepping away. He shared that he no longer found mixed martial arts fun and that he wanted to spend more time with his family. He did not hint at a comeback and said he was satisfied with his achievements. His last professional fight took place in 2023.
Continued Involvement in Martial Arts
After retiring, Johnson stayed active in martial arts but focused on different roles. He expressed interest in coaching and helping others improve their skills. He devoted more time to training, learning new techniques, and staying physically fit, but not for competition.
Johnson has also planned to work on digital content, including online tutorials and instructional videos for martial arts fans. He appeared at events and seminars, sharing his experience with the next generation of fighters. Johnson’s influence in martial arts continues through education and community involvement, even though he is no longer fighting professionally.
He remains a recognizable figure in the sport, and his commitment to martial arts has not faded since his retirement.
