Demetrious Johnson is ‘best fighter in the world’ says UFC’s Israel Adesanya
- ‘Stylebender’ thinks One Championship star has nothing left to prove in the UFC
- ‘The way he operates at that weight class … it’s just different’
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 in the world right now? Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson,” Adesanya told Peter Rosenberg on the Ebro in the Morning show earlier this month while in New York for UFC 244.
“Unfortunately, he’s not in the UFC any more but I don’t think he has anything to prove in the UFC.”