Demetrious Johnson made history last night (Sat., Oct. 7, 2017) in Las Vegas, Nevada by defeating Ray Borg via submission in the co-main event of UFC 216, earning his record-breaking eleventh straight title defense.
And it was a site to behold, as Johnson pulled of an amazing submission move he dubbed “The Mighty Armbar” after he suplexed Borg only to catch him with the move mid-air before fully locking it in as soon as they hit the mat and eventually forcing the tap.
In doing so, “Mighty Mouse” now moves past Anderson Silva — whom he previously shared the record with at 10 — something he’s glad to to finally do.
“It’s really good not to hear Anderson Silva’s name next to my name,” Johnson said during the post-fight presser (video replay here) via MMA Junkie. “Now, who has the longest reign of title defenses? Demetrious Johnson does.”
As for the move itself, Johnson said he’s been working on it for quite some time.
“It was another day in the office. Every fight is like the last one. It was special to pull that off that finish. I’ve been working on that submission in the gym,” he said after the fight. “I was so tired from doing it, but I’ve practiced it a 1,000 times, and that’s what I got. My coach said: you mastered it in the gym and pulled it off in the Octagon.”
As for what’s next for Demetrious after doing what no other fighter before has, he will visit his doctor’s office first thing next week to get an MRI to see what is going on in his right knee, as Johnson revealed he had been dealing with an injury ever since he was set to face off against Borg at UFC 215.
“When I was up in Edmonton, I had an injury I was going to fight through, and (coach) Matt (Hume) was like, ‘Uh, you need to get that looked at,’” Johnson said. “When it got pushed back, I was like, great, now I have to go into training camp injured and try not to make it worse,” he said.
“I have to get an MRI,” he said. “I can move fine, but when I sit back on my knees, if try to lay on my knees and try to take my butt to my heels, just excruciating pain in my right knee. I don’t know what it is – I’m going to get it looked at.”
If Johnson has to take some time off, it will be well-deserved and welcome for the pound-for-pound king, who will likely have to wait to see who he faces next after the dust clears at UFC 218 on Dec. 2, as Henry Cejudo takes on Sergio Pettis for a possible shot at Johnson’s strap.
For complete UFC 216 results and coverage click here.