Demetrious Johnson
Speed, scrambles and a record run of title defenses
- Born
- August 13, 1986, Madisonville, Kentucky, US
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 160 cm (5′3″)
- Reach
- 168 cm (5′6″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Fast all-round technician
- Weight
- Flyweight, Bantamweight
- Active
- 2006–2023
- Status
- Retired · age 40
The record
Wikipedia and Sherdog both list 25-4-1. UFC.com's profile, frozen at his 2018 UFC exit, shows a different 27-3-1. record
The story
emetrious Johnson became the UFC's first flyweight champion by beating Joseph Benavidez in 2012, then defended the title 11 straight times, still the UFC record for consecutive defenses. Known as one of the fastest fighters in the sport, he mixed quick punches and kicks with sharp exits, Muay Thai clinch knees and elbows, and wrestling that let him decide where the fight happened. The record-setting 11th defense ended in the fifth round, when he suplexed Ray Borg and turned it straight into an armbar. After losing the belt to Henry Cejudo by split decision in 2018, he moved to ONE Championship, won its 2019 Flyweight Grand Prix and later its flyweight title. He retired in 2024 and entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2026.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC flyweight champion (inaugural, 11 successful defenses)
- ONE flyweight world champion (2022–2023)
- ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix champion (2019)
- UFC Hall of Fame, Modern Wing (2026)
- ONE Championship Hall of Fame, inaugural inductee (2024)
Defining fights
- 2012WINvs Joseph Benavidez (split decision, won inaugural UFC flyweight title)
- 2015WINvs Kyoji Horiguchi (armbar R5 at 4:59)
- 2017WINvs Ray Borg (suplex-to-armbar R5, record 11th straight defense)
- 2018LOSSvs Henry Cejudo (split decision, lost title)
- 2022WINvs Adriano Moraes (flying knee KO R4, won ONE flyweight title)
Control the head with a Muay Thai plum, land knees and short elbows, and exit before the counter comes back. Wrestling and catch wrestling students can also study his suplex that lands the opponent straight into an armbar.
