When you’re always fighting against guys who are bigger than you, you have to wonder what it would be like to fight in your natural weight class.
Demetrious Johnson has always fought professionally at 135 lbs due to the fact a lot of promotions don’t have a 125 lbs division. He was always smaller than everybody he has faced. Now, though, it will be different.
The UFC announced on Saturday night that the flyweight division is coming, beginning with a four-man tournament at the UFC on FX 2 event. That event will take place on Friday, March 2nd in the U.S. which will be Saturday, March 3rd in Australia. The event most likely take place at the Acer Arena in Sydney, where UFC 110 took place.
In the inaugural flyweight title, Joseph Benavidez will face Yasuhiro Urushitani and Ian McCall will face Johnson.
Johnson (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) last fought at the last UFC on Versus 6. He will look to bounce back from his loss to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Cruz will be attempting to dethrone the man a lot of people consider the No. 1 flyweight in the world, McCall (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC).
Johnson said he is glad the flyweight division is finally being introduced in the UFC. “It’s long time coming,” he told me.
The fans have been asking for it, the fighters have been asking for it and it’s great to have it finally in the UFC. I think it’s going to be a great addition to the UFC roster of weight classes. I think we’re going to put the weight class on the map. It’s going to be exciting.
Johnson had signed a contract to face Eddie Wineland at the UFC Fox 2 event in Chicago on January 28, but said he is honored to take part in the tournament.
Got contacted about a week ago. My reaction was like, “Awesome.” I see it as another fight, and I’m very honored to be apart of this tournament and to be considered as one of the top five flyweights in the world, even though I haven’t fought there as a professional. I’m looking forward to getting in there and showing the world what flyweights can do, and it’s going to be a great tournament.
Johnson has never fought as a flyweight as a pro and hasn’t really had to cut that much weight make 135. He said he feels confident that the weight cut will be pretty easy.
I’ll watch what I take in. I usually eat whatever I want. I remember when I was fighting in the WEC, I was eating whatever I wanted, drinking as much water as I want. I’m pretty good at my water intake. I don’t drink anything besides water. Usually, I may have a sandwich with a lot of bread, a lot of grains, which is very filling. It stays in your stomach all the time. I just gotta make sure I cut out all the bad stuff and put in all the good stuff.
A lot of fans really don’t know about McCall, who is regarded as the No. 1 flyweight in the world. McCall was the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight champion before he signed with the UFC. Johnson has been doing his homework on McCall and isn’t taking him lightly.
I know Ian McCall. You can call him “Uncle Creepy.” He’s ranked No. 1 in the world according to Sherdog’s rankings. He just beat Darrel Montague for the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight belt and he’s pretty good. He’s fought twice in the WEC against Dominick Cruz and Charlie Valencia at 135, also against Coty Wheeler, the “Ox.” He has a pretty well-rounded game. He always comes in shape. It seems like he’s got his weight cut down to a tee.
What can the fans expect out of the newest weight class in the UFC? Johnson feels you can expect a little bit of everything.
The fans can expect everything you get out of the other divisions. Your gonna get a lot more speed, a lot more technical work, we’re not going to get tired. Your gonna see some knockouts because we still posses power at this weight class and your just gonna see all around great fights. We’re fast, we’re scramblers and we know what we’re doing in there. It’s going to be great fights you can see from the flyweights.
You can listen to the two-part interview with Demetrious Johnson here.
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