https://www.scmp.com/rss/502809/feed Demetrious Johnson is an American MMA fighter with One Championship. "Mighty Mouse" is a former UFC flyweight champion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw Yuya Wakamatsu has waited his entire combat sports life for this kind of moment. The 30-year-old finally reached the summit when he became the ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion in Tokyo earlier this year, fulfilling a dream he once believed might not be possible. Now he returns home to defend that title for the first time, determined to show he is not only the man who climbed the mountain, but the man who belongs at the top of it. Wakamatsu faces ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio at ONE 173... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330139/one-championship-wakamatsu-out-defend-title-home-soil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3330139/one-championship-wakamatsu-out-defend-title-home-soil?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:41:19 +0000 ONE Championship Fight Night 10 – the Singapore-based promotion’s debut on US soil – went down on Friday night in Denver, Colorado. The 11-bout card was topped by a flyweight MMA title fight, with American champion Demetrious Johnson defending his belt against Brazil’s Adriano Moraes. It was the third time the pair met in the ONE Circle, having scored a highlight-reel knockout apiece in their first two fights. It was a competitive fight, but Johnson ultimately won it by unanimous decision to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219603/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-results-highlights-demetrious-johnson-rodtang-defend-titles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219603/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-results-highlights-demetrious-johnson-rodtang-defend-titles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2023 22:27:35 +0000 ONE Championship flyweight MMA king Demetrious Johnson is back to training with his two-time opponent Henry Cejudo. Johnson, 36, is set to defend his belt against Brazil’s Adriano Moraes in the main event of ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, Colorado – the promotion’s first event on US soil. It will be his third fight with Brazilian after they scored a win apiece in their first two fights, and he evidently sees his former foe Cejudo as a valuable training partner as he prepares for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210234/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-returns-training-henry-cejudo-ahead-adriano-moraes-trilogy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3210234/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-returns-training-henry-cejudo-ahead-adriano-moraes-trilogy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:42:01 +0000 Joe Rogan has enjoyed watching ONE Championship on Prime Video. ONE sold its US broadcast rights to the Amazon-owned streaming service earlier this year, and has since promoted three events on the platform. The events have aired in prime time in North America, and Rogan, one of the foremost voices in the combat sports industry, was tuned in. “I love it,” he told ONE flyweight MMA champion Demetrious Johnson on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. “I love that they’re doing that [deal with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3197769/joe-rogan-says-one-championship-doing-beautiful-things-prime-video-events-i-love-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3197769/joe-rogan-says-one-championship-doing-beautiful-things-prime-video-events-i-love-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Oct 2022 09:15:04 +0000 Demetrious Johnson impressed a lot of people when he knocked out Adriano Moraes at Saturday’s ONE on Prime Video 1 event – including MMA superstar Conor McGregor. “Mighty Mouse” met Brazil’s Moraes in the main event of ONE Championship’s debut card on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service, with the promotion’s flyweight title on the line, and knocked him out in round four. McGregor, like many fight fans, was tuned for Johnson’s performance, and was clearly impressed with what he saw. Quite... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3190722/conor-mcgregor-praises-quite-incredible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3190722/conor-mcgregor-praises-quite-incredible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:19:40 +0000 Demetrious Johnson would be open to a trilogy fight in ONE Championship with his old UFC nemesis Henry Cejudo “if the money was crazy enough”. The legendary “Mighty Mouse” finally captured the ONE flyweight MMA title with a stunning, walk-off flying knee knockout of Adriano Moraes on Saturday morning in Singapore. It was his first knockout win since finishing Cejudo in April 2016. His fellow American would even the score in August 2018, earning a split decision to snap Johnson’s record streak of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3190473/one-championship-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3190473/one-championship-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Aug 2022 12:08:01 +0000 ONE Championship’s Demetrious Johnson has wrapped up his training with Henry Cejudo, and from the looks of it, it was a fruitful experience for both fighters. The two Americans, both former UFC flyweight champions, met twice in the promotion’s Octagon. But as Johnson prepares for a high-stakes ONE flyweight title fight with Adriano Moraes, he sought out his two-time foe at the Fight Ready gym in Arizona for help. And as many fans hoped, he capped off his time with Cejudo by sharing some footage... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3185786/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-shares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3185786/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-shares?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Jul 2022 06:58:50 +0000 ONE Championship has unveiled the complete line-up for ONE 161, its first event on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service. ONE 161 is slated for the morning of August 27 in Singapore – the evening of Friday August 26 stateside. The Asian martial arts promotion revealed the line-up for the event on social media on Friday, and fans on both sides of the world are likely to be pleased. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3184663/one-championship-161-line-revealed-nong-o-vs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3184663/one-championship-161-line-revealed-nong-o-vs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:06:58 +0000 Adriano Moraes is hoping to show off his most dangerous weapon in his upcoming rematch with MMA legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Moraes, ONE Championship’s long-reigning flyweight champion, first met Johnson, a 12-time UFC champ, in April 2021. Despite being known as a submission specialist, he ended up knocking his decorated challenger out with a knee in round two. It was one of the biggest upsets of the year, and one that begged for a rematch from the moment it ended. The rematch is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3182164/one-championship-adriano-moraes-aims-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3182164/one-championship-adriano-moraes-aims-show?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jun 2022 13:29:22 +0000 Adriano Moraes and Demetrious Johnson are set to meet again. The two flyweights will collide for a second time on the morning August 27 in Singapore, with the ONE Championship flyweight title up for grabs. The bout will headline the Asian martial arts promotion’s first event on Amazon’s Prime Video, and will air in US prime time on the evening of August 26. The match-up was revealed during Fridays’ ONE 158 broadcast. Moraes and Johnson first met in April of 2021. Brazil’s Moraes won the fight by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3180378/one-championship-adriano-moraes-demetrious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3180378/one-championship-adriano-moraes-demetrious?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jun 2022 13:06:23 +0000 Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo, who shared the UFC’s Octagon on two occasions, had a mysterious meeting over the weekend, and fans are already speculating as to their reasons. The two fighters, widely regarded among the best of all time, both shared a snapshot from the reunion at Cejudo’s house in Arizona on Instagram – but neither shed much light on what they were up to. “Guess who stopped by The Cejudo hacienda today. Stay tuned,” Cejudo wrote in an Instagram... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3174586/one-championships-demetrious-johnson-fuels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3174586/one-championships-demetrious-johnson-fuels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Apr 2022 14:20:11 +0000 American wrestling specialist Jarred Brooks is dialled in on his imminent fight with South Africa’s Bokang Masunyane, but sees plenty of interesting opportunities further down the road. Brooks and Masunyane, ONE Championship’s No 2 and 1-ranked strawweights respectively, will collide on April 22 in Singapore. The winner will earn a crack at long-reigning strawweight champion Joshua Pacio, but Brooks is determined to focus on the task at hand – which he suspects will be more difficult than a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3173686/one-championship-jarred-brooks-open-fights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3173686/one-championship-jarred-brooks-open-fights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Apr 2022 07:48:09 +0000 Stamp Fairtex and Rodtang Jitmuangnon, two of the biggest combat sports stars out of Thailand, are disappointed but undeterred after their tough losses at ONE X. ONE X, which commemorated Asian martial arts promotion ONE Championship’s 10th anniversary, went down inside the packed Singapore Stadium on Saturday night and Stamp and Rodtang both received top billing. Stamp, who previously held ONE’s atomweight kick-boxing and Muay Thai titles, challenged atomweight champion Angela Lee in the card’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3172032/one-x-stamp-fairtex-admits-i-have-gain-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3172032/one-x-stamp-fairtex-admits-i-have-gain-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Mar 2022 08:39:17 +0000 Demetrious Johnson did what many suspected he would do in his special rules showdown with Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon in the co-main event of ONE Championship’s 10th anniversary spectacular on Saturday night in Singapore. With fans welcomed back en masse to the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the pair met in a frantic bout at the ONE X event which alternated between three-minute rounds of Muay Thai and MMA, starting with the former —... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3171994/one-x-demetrious-johnson-puts-rodtang-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3171994/one-x-demetrious-johnson-puts-rodtang-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Mar 2022 14:58:16 +0000 Former ONE lightweight champion Christian Lee is backing Demetrious Johnson to beat Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE X. The event, which goes down on March 26 in Singapore, will commemorate the Asian martial arts promotion’s 10th anniversary. One of the most compelling features of the card’s star-studded line-up is a special rules attraction between MMA legend Johnson and the reigning ONE flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang. Johnson and Rodtang come from different combat sports, so the bout will use... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3167759/one-championship-christian-lee-backs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3167759/one-championship-christian-lee-backs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 19:10:18 +0000 The consensus in the MMA world is that Demetrious Johnson will be able to take down Rodtang Jitmuangnon and finish him at will if he survives the first round of their ONE Championship special rules bout on December 5. But the flyweight “GOAT” (greatest of all time) has insisted he would be a fool to dismiss Muay Thai icon Rodtang’s chances once the ruleset switches to MMA in Singapore. “He’s gonna have some takedown defence,” Johnson told the Post. “I would be stupid to think that from here to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149809/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-says-hed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149809/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-says-hed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:00:16 +0000 UFC president Dana White will not be taking notes from ONE Championship and their upcoming special rules bout involving Demetrious Johnson. Former UFC flyweight king Johnson is set to do battle with Muay Thai icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a four-round fight at the Asian promotion’s 10th anniversary show, ONE: X, on December 5 in Singapore. The ruleset will alternate between Muay Thai and MMA each round, and White hinted that perhaps there‘s a reason behind the unique match-up. “I just think that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149761/ufc-boss-dana-white-says-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149761/ufc-boss-dana-white-says-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Sep 2021 04:30:17 +0000 Demetrious Johnson’s special rules fight against Rodtang Jitmuangnon has got the combat sports world buzzing, for sure. The flyweight MMA “GOAT” (greatest of all time) will take on Muay Thai icon Rodtang at ONE Championship’s 10th anniversary show on December 5. The 35-year-old American Johnson (30-4-1) is in Singapore this week for Friday’s ONE: Revolution card, on cornering duty for a teammate – as is former ONE middleweight and light heavyweight champ Aung La N Sang, who broke down the fight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149578/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-will-get?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149578/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-will-get?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:50:15 +0000 ONE Championship has shaken things up for its 10th anniversary card in December with a “special rules” fight between MMA legend Demetrious Johnson and Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon. And Johnson’s AMC Pankration teammate Bibiano Fernandes is backing the former UFC star to end matters quickly in the second round in Singapore – if he can survive Rodtang’s brutal striking for the first three minutes. The four-round bout will alternate been Muay Thai and MMA rules, with ONE flyweight grand... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149167/one-championship-bibiano-fernandes-expects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149167/one-championship-bibiano-fernandes-expects?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:21:17 +0000 Demetrious Johnson did not take long to agree to a “crazy” fight with Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon, according to ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong. MMA legend Johnson (30-4-1) will face “The Iron Man” in a special rules bout at the Asian promotion’s 10th anniversary show – ONE: X – on December 5 in Singapore. The first and third rounds of the four-round fight will be Muay Thai rules, with the second and fourth rounds contested under MMA rules. “Basically, they both said yes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149009/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-agreed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3149009/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-agreed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:00:17 +0000 Former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson may be coming off shock losses but ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong has some big plans for them. The American pair, two huge acquisitions made by the Asian promotion from its US counterpart in late 2018, both suffered defeat in during ONE’s run of shows on American broadcaster TNT in April. Johnson had breezed through ONE’s flyweight grand prix to earn the right to challenge champ Adriano Moraes, but the Brazilian stunned the MMA... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3147427/one-championship-has-huge-fight-demetrious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3147427/one-championship-has-huge-fight-demetrious?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:55:34 +0000 In the aftermath of Demetrious Johnson’s dramatic defeat by Adriano Moraes, the flyweight “GOAT” had a brief moment of madness. Speaking to the media not long after his second-round TKO loss at ONE Championship’s TNT 1 card, “Mighty Mouse” expressed a desire to compete in the Asian promotion’s kick-boxing division. “When you’re stuck in a hotel room in Singapore for 10 days, you start to think all kinds of crazy s***, right?” the 34-year-old American told SCMP MMA in a recent interview, before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3137907/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-politely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3137907/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-politely?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jun 2021 09:19:00 +0000 Bibiano Fernandes has said he feels his absence from Demetrious Johnson’s training camp contributed to “Mighty Mouse” losing to ONE Championship flyweight king Adriano Moraes. The American former UFC champ suffered a second-round TKO defeat at ONE on TNT I in April, getting knocked out for the first time in his career at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. But ONE bantamweight champion Fernandes believes he can help his training partner Johnson solve the puzzle presented by his fellow Brazilian Moraes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3136166/one-championship-bibiano-fernandes-insists-he?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3136166/one-championship-bibiano-fernandes-insists-he?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jun 2021 04:24:25 +0000 Adriano Moraes stunned to world of mixed martial arts with a sensational second-round TKO victory against Demetrious Johnson. Despite being the challenger, with a significant height and reach disadvantage against the lanky Brazilian, former UFC champ Johnson had staggering -900 odds heading into Thursday morning’s ONE on TNT 1 main event in Singapore. But ONE’s flyweight king Moraes became the first man to finish “Mighty Mouse”, rocking the 34-year-old American with a left uppercut and then... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128704/one-championship-adriano-moraes-tkos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128704/one-championship-adriano-moraes-tkos?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Apr 2021 03:24:52 +0000 ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong thinks Demetrious Johnson is in for the “toughest fight of his career” against Adriano Moraes in Thursday morning’s ONE on TNT 1 main event. After a high-profile switch to the Asian martial arts promotion in 2019, former UFC champion Johnson (30-3-1) produced three wins to earn the ONE flyweight grand prix title and a shot at divisional king Moraes. “It’s a fight that people want to see, because if you look at DJ’s career, he steamrollered... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128488/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-faces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128488/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-faces?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:53:22 +0000 There can’t be many high-profile fights in MMA history that have been longer in the making than Demetrious Johnson vs Adriano Moraes. “Mighty Mouse” officially earned his shot at ONE Championship’s flyweight title after winning the Asian promotion’s flyweight grand prix final in October 2019, setting up a mouthwatering showdown between the former UFC champ and dominant Brazilian submission specialist Moraes. But then the setbacks started. “It’s been one of those things where it was offered... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128465/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-hopes-he?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3128465/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-hopes-he?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:38:06 +0000 ONE Championship got things done in 2020, putting on fight cards when that looked, for a while, to be nigh on impossible, and providing nights of high drama when those events came to fruition. There were new champions crowned at middleweight (Dutchman Reinier De Ridder) and at featherweight (Vietnamese-American Thanh Le). There was further proof that Xiong Jingnan owns the strawweight division, with the Chinese fighter’s fourth defence of her crown. “2020 has been a tough year, but above all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3114950/one-championship-five-storylines-watch-2021?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3114950/one-championship-five-storylines-watch-2021?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Dec 2020 01:00:17 +0000 ONE Championship flyweight king Adriano Moraes has warned Demetrious Johnson there will be “no mercy” when they finally meet in the middle of the Circle in February. “Mighty Mouse” (27-3-1) earned his shot at champ Moraes (18-3) by winning the flyweight grand prix at ONE: Century in Tokyo last October. The highly anticipated showdown was originally set for Chongqing, China, in April this year before the coronavirus pandemic put paid to the Asian martial arts organisation’s schedule, but they... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3114358/one-championship-adriano-moraes-promises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3114358/one-championship-adriano-moraes-promises?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:29:15 +0000 ONE Championship is looking to the likes of international MMA superstars Aung La N Sang, Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson to help return some sense of normalcy to an Asian sporting scene brought to a standstill for more than six months by the Covid-19 pandemic. “In many ways we are the international pilot test. If we are successful then we will have the blueprint for other international events to start in Singapore,” said ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong in a conference call on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3104507/one-championship-working-eddie-alvarez-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3104507/one-championship-working-eddie-alvarez-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2020 06:40:03 +0000 Monday marked two years to the day that Demetrious Johnson last fought in the UFC. But his name still comes up whenever the 125-pound division is the centre of attention. Even after being traded in 2018 to ONE Championship and capturing the ONE flyweight grand prix belt last October in Tokyo, “Mighty Mouse” (27-3-1) is ever the talk of the town on his old stamping grounds. The latest to call his name out? Deiveson Figueiredo, who last month became just the third UFC flyweight title-holder in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3096084/one-championships-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3096084/one-championships-demetrious-johnson?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Aug 2020 03:51:03 +0000 Demetrious Johnson has taken the ONE Championship flyweight division by storm, winning the flyweight grand prix in his first year in the promotion. “Mighty Mouse” may have got a big, shiny belt for his efforts, but it seems many have forgotten who wears the real title, and have written him off. “Yes, of course I think I don’t have the credit,” Adriano Moraes told SCMP MMA’s Post Fight Podcast. “But I’m the champion. The most important is when my friends, my family, my wife, my amazing mum, say... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3089701/one-championship-adriano-moraes-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3089701/one-championship-adriano-moraes-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jun 2020 02:02:25 +0000 Considered by many to be one of the greatest MMA fighters in history, Demetrious Johnson, isn’t about that famous life. Despite holding the record for the most title defences in UFC history (12), DJ has been criticised for being less marketable in creating a huge following because he doesn’t trash talk and beat down on his opponents. Strip away the UFC octagon and you’ll find an all-round nice guy who is all about that family life. Sure, he’s a bit vanilla. But with notoriously fast fighting... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3089622/meet-demetrious-johnson-mma-champion-father-and-nice-guy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3089622/meet-demetrious-johnson-mma-champion-father-and-nice-guy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:00:10 +0000 ONE Championship has confirmed it is postponing all events through May amid the global Covid-19 pandemic. The Asian organisation last put on an event behind closed doors in Singapore in February, but government lockdown regulations have prevented ONE from holding further events in its home city. “All May events for ONE Championship will be postponed until further notice due to the recent Covid-19 developments (border closings and lockdowns) across most countries in Asia,” ONE chief executive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081870/one-championship-postpones-may-events-working?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081870/one-championship-postpones-may-events-working?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:19:45 +0000 ONE Championship has released its first official rankings for select divisions of mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and kick-boxing. Rankings for the middleweight and light heavyweight MMA divisions – ruled by Aung La N Sang – and heavyweight MMA division, whose champion is Brandon Vera, will be added at a later date, according to a press release. “The rankings will bring more clarity and transparency for our athletes as they chase their dreams for a world championship title,” said ONE CEO Chatri... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081705/one-championship-releases-first-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081705/one-championship-releases-first-official?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2020 07:08:56 +0000 Demetrious Johnson is set to challenge Adriano Moraes for the ONE flyweight title on May 29 in Manila, Philippines. To say the lead-up to this fight is unusual for him would be an understatement. First off, there is the question of whether it will actually happen as planned. While the bout currently has a date and setting, Johnson has doubts that he will be able to make it to Asia – let alone leave the United States. “The fight’s still scheduled for May 29,” the former UFC flyweight champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081182/demetrious-johnson-has-no-idea-what-hell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3081182/demetrious-johnson-has-no-idea-what-hell?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2020 04:17:45 +0000 One Championship has announced it will move its events behind closed doors with live audiences suspended until at least May 29 in Manila following the global escalation of the coronavirus outbreak. The Asian MMA organisation’s next four shows will all be held in Singapore and are initially set for April 17, April 24, May 1 and May 8. One’s first blockbuster “Infinity” show, which had originally been set for April 10 in Jakarta, will now take place in the Philippines “but it’s subject to change... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3075055/coronavirus-one-championship-moves-all-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3075055/coronavirus-one-championship-moves-all-events?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2020 05:03:50 +0000 Demetrious Johnson is keeping a close eye on the coronavirus outbreak in Asia but is hopeful it won’t stop him competing for the One Championship flyweight title. “Mighty Mouse” is set to face Adriano Moraes at “One: Infinity” on April 10 in Jakarta, Indonesia, which confirmed its first two cases of the disease on Monday. “As of right now, the coronavirus, it’s just being very impactful – not just in Asia but also in our current location, Washington,” Johnson told Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “We... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3064715/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-has-no?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3064715/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-has-no?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:58:00 +0000 Demetrious Johnson was fairly frank in his assessment of the UFC flyweight title farce that unfolded last weekend in Norfolk. Deiveson Figueiredo got a second-round knockout of Joseph Benavidez on Saturday night – but wasn’t able to win the vacant title because he missed weight. “It’s a s*** show,” Johnson told Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday night. The belt had of course been stripped from Henry Cejudo, who took it from UFC flyweight legend Johnson in August 2018 but had not defended it... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3064707/demetrious-johnson-blasts-ufc-flyweight-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3064707/demetrious-johnson-blasts-ufc-flyweight-title?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:29:20 +0000 Strawweight champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio (16-3) is leading five fighters from the famed Team Lakay operation into One Championship’s Fire & Fury card in Manila on Friday night with one mission on his mind. “I want to take this team back to the top,” said the 24-year-old, who faces Alex “Little Rock” Silva. It will take some doing. The collective from Baguio City saw a distinct drop in their fortunes over 2019, having been the dominant force across the length and breadth of One for as long... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3048266/one-championship-joshua-pacio-vows-bring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3048266/one-championship-joshua-pacio-vows-bring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:19:06 +0000 Most MMA fans and media agreed on the same names when it came to conversations about fighter of the year. Jorge Masvidal, Israel Adesanya and Henry Cejudo were the usual suspects after their title-winning exploits in the UFC in 2019. One other familiar name perhaps deserved to be in the frame, at least. Demetrious Johnson tore his way through One Championship’s flyweight division during his first year in the Asian MMA organisation, after his highly anticipated move from the UFC, where he had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3045989/demetrious-johnson-one-championship-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3045989/demetrious-johnson-one-championship-title?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2020 06:31:17 +0000 Israel Adesanya has been quietly climbing the pound for pound MMA rankings in most fans’ eyes. But he thinks the very top spot should be reserved for Demetrious Johnson. Former UFC flyweight champion Johnson, who holds the record for consecutive title defences in the company with 11, is now plying his trade in Asia with One Championship. The 33-year-old went 3-0 this year to claim One’s flying grand prix title, and UFC middleweight champion Adesanya thinks he’s still the king. “The best fighter... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3038024/demetrious-johnson-best-fighter-world-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3038024/demetrious-johnson-best-fighter-world-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2019 03:44:00 +0000 Demetrious Johnson is a big fan of what Henry Cejudo is doing in the UFC. But he still thinks he could take him. The former UFC flyweight champion is 1-1 with “Triple C”, who ended Johnson’s record run of 11 title defences last year before “Mighty Mouse” jumped ship for One Championship. Cejudo has gone on to become a two-weight champion, beating Marlon Moraes for the vacant bantamweight belt earlier this year, and has been making fans laugh and cringe in equal measure with his bizarre on-screen... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3037891/demetrious-johnson-says-he-could-take-henry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3037891/demetrious-johnson-says-he-could-take-henry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Nov 2019 06:30:34 +0000 Demetrious Johnson’s big shiny flyweight grand prix belt certainly caught the eye after his crowning victory at One Championship: Century in Tokyo last month. It also piqued the interest of US customs officials. “Mighty Mouse” revealed to MMAJunkie.com that he was stopped by customs on his way back from the Japanese capital to Seattle last month after beating Danny Kingad. “Yeah, I got stopped,” Johnson said. “You can’t bring something like that through and not expect them to be curious. “They... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3037706/demetrious-johnson-quizzed-us-customs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3037706/demetrious-johnson-quizzed-us-customs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2019 07:45:56 +0000