Contrary to the common trend in MMA where retirements are often short-lived, Demetrious Johnson insists his retirement is permanent.
In combat sports, particularly MMA, retirement announcements are frequently met with skepticism. The allure of fame, money, and competition often draws athletes back into the ring or octagon. However, Johnson, a celebrated former champion in both UFC and ONE Championship, has not once considered returning to MMA since his retirement announcement last September.
“There’s simply no reason to,” Johnson stated on MMA Junkie Radio. “There comes a point where you have to ask yourself, ‘When is enough, enough?’ For me, that moment came after the Adriano Moraes fight. I had reached the pinnacle, becoming a champion in both UFC and ONE Championship. There was nothing left to prove. Is it just about earning more money?”
Although his retirement was announced less than seven months prior, Johnson had been inactive for over a year before that, since his title defense against Moraes. He had made his decision well before making it public.
Despite being retired, many fans have expressed their desire to see Johnson compete again. Alexandre Pantoja, the current UFC flyweight champion, even called him out following his recent title defense in December, but without success.
Johnson, 38, mentioned that he has received numerous offers to fight again, but none have been even remotely tempting.
“Not at all,” Johnson confirmed. “I’ve received several great offers, but I always decline because I want to stay true to my word. I decided I would never fight again solely for money. Those days of using my body just to make a living are over. I`m not going to sign a fight contract.”
Considered by many to be one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, Johnson still holds the record for the most consecutive UFC title defenses with 11.
“Mighty Mouse” emphasized his unwavering stance on retirement, which is made easier by his financial security. This stability comes not only from his successful fighting career but also from various income streams he has developed, including his growing presence as an analyst and YouTube personality.
Furthermore, Johnson stressed that his retirement decision was not made hastily. Therefore, in his view, there is no turning back to MMA.
“Taking time to consider was crucial for me,” Johnson explained. “As a professional MMA athlete, you never truly know when the right time to retire is. You see guys on long winning streaks and wonder, ‘What else is there for them to do? Should they keep fighting for money? Should they retire?’ For me, after the Moraes fight in Denver, Colorado, I questioned if my life was just going to be an endless cycle of fighting and press conferences.”
“So, I decided to see if I could sustain myself financially without getting punched in the face. I gave myself a year to see if I would miss it – the press conferences, the fighting, the competition. As time passed, I discovered a love for competing in jiu-jitsu with the gi, started building my YouTube channel and the Mighty Cast, and engaged in other business ventures. I realized, ‘I really don’t miss MMA.’ Also, I didn`t want to hold up the flyweight division.”
