One Championship: Demetrious Johnson is playing second fiddle for the first time in his life … and he’s loving it
- Mixed martial arts legend Demetrious Johnson is used to being top of the bill
- But the ex-UFC flyweight champion is channelling his inner ‘fanboy’ for One Championship’s Tokyo debut
How often does arguably the best pound for pound mixed martial arts fighter in history play second fiddle on a stacked card, and love it?
UFC legend Demetrious Johnson is relishing the chance to immerse himself in martial arts and watch the Asian stars at Sunday’s “One Championship: A New Era” event in Tokyo, on his debut for the Singapore-based MMA outfit.
That includes his close friend Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes – the former One bantamweight champion and a training partner under Matt Hume, who is also vice-president of operations and competition for One, and the man who brought Johnson to the company.
“It’s an honour to be part of this historic event – four world title fights,” Johnson said. “It’s an opportunity to build a fight for my ‘brother from another mother’, Bibiano Fernandes.”
Brazilian Fernandes fights Kevin Belingon in a rematch for bantamweight title after losing the belt to the Filipino via a split decision in November.
And “Mighty Mouse” will be cheering him on, with his debut in the flyweight grand prix against Japan’s Yuya Wakamatsu further down a card featuring four title fights as well as the debut of his fellow former UFC champion, Eddie Alvarez.
“It’s different,” said Johnson, who has featured in the co-main event in his past 14 fights stretching back to 2012.
“I go out there and compete, then take a shower and head back out there to watch my friend fight. I’m excited for that, man. I get to see my buddy Bibiano Fernandes hopefully claim his belt back.”
Johnson has been like the many fans here in Tokyo talking about being able to watch this stacked card, which is headlined by the fighter’s fighter, Shinya Aoki of Japan.
What has added to the atmosphere is seeing the fighters mingling in Shinagawa’s Grand Prince Hotel with fans and friends.
The Post even ran into some of Eddie Alvarez’s best buddies from Philadelphia in a Shinjuku karaoke bar. They concurred that he looked in great shape (and also said the fight against Conor McGregor could have gone the other way, and that he could have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov had he stayed in the UFC).
For his part, Wakamatsu feels he is being overlooked slightly. “I’m not nervous,” he said in Tokyo. “He looks smaller than I expected.” The Japanese added with a smile: “I think he was intimidated.”
But Johnson – who made a record 11 straight title defences before losing his flyweight title to Henry Cejudo in a split decision last year before signing with One – is as focused as ever.
“I won’t disappoint you guys, I’ve been training very hard,” he told a press conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Tokyo. “I haven’t taken Yuya Wakamatsu lightly.
“He’s a great Japanese athlete. It’s going to be interesting. He comes from a great camp, Tokyo Tribe, It’s been a long time coming for me to be here in Japan and fight in front of my Japanese fans.”
“For me, this is the next step as the evolution of an athlete,” Johnson added. “This will be the first time in my career, probably 10 years, since my coach won’t be able to corner me. So, it should be interesting.”
Johnson has also said he wants to follow in the footsteps of MMA legends like Fedor Emelianenko, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Mirko Cro Cop who have made names for themselves in Asia.
“If you look at all my fights, my title reign, I’m always going out there looking for the finish, either knocking the opponent out or submitting him. So with this, I’m looking to go out there and push the pace and hopefully get the finish,” Johnson said.
“For me it’s been the same thing as always, at the end of the day it’s about me being the best. Flying over to Japan I made an extra trip to come out here to adjust to the time zone.
The last thing I want to do on this biggest platform, coming to Japan with One Championship, is not take it seriously and try to come in on two days or four days before the competition. I came out here, I’ll be adjusted for the fight night and letting it go.”
