UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson isn’t looking past top contender Henry Cejudo and his title defense this month.
But with the UFC announcing that the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 24 would receive a shot at the flyweight champion in December, there is no way for “Mighty Mouse” to not be asked about the subject.
As far as Johnson is concerned, he’s content with facing the winner of the reality series – just not so much when the UFC seems to want it to happen.
“I’m fine with having two fights this year, but I don’t want to wait all the way to December,” he said, during a recent interview with Submission Radio. “I would, you know, I’ve told the UFC that I like to stay pretty active and I like fighting in September. That’s kind of like the schedule I’ve been on, fighting April and September. So I want to fight in September, then, you know, if they want to have me fight in February – you know, give the guy who won the Ultimate Fighter December off, then January, February, fighting in February, I’m happy with that. But I like to stay active.
“I don’t like to wait on people to be successful in this sport. Because at the end of the day, my timer and my age is getting up there. And the longer I sit on the shelf, the longer I’m not making money.”
As for his upcoming opponent, Johnson views it as just another challenge. He’s already bested the likes of Joseph Benavidez, Ian McCall, Ali Bagautinov and Kyoji Horiguchi.
“Well they always bring in different challenges. I mean, that’s like the perks of always fighting somebody new,” he said. “But you can always sit down and look at tape, but until you get in there with me or try get in there with those guys, you know, they see it as ‘oh yeah, everybody talks about how Demetrious is fast, his cardio, his wrestling, ability to switch it up, to switch from different arts of combat, you know, fluid’ and when they get in there with me they’re like ‘holy schizer! Yeah this is what we saw on tape and I’m not prepared for it.’ So that’s what I think is going to happen, but we’ll have to see.
“It’s not overcoming a guy like Cejudo or anybody, it’s just me overcoming myself – make sure I go out there, feel good, I get in my rhythm, you know, be sharp and go out there and fight. So you know, I was thinking about it and I was like, you know, when I’m fighting these guys, I’m not fighting these guys. I’m fighting myself. I just gotta go out there and do what I do best, which is win.”
UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson isn’t looking past top contender Henry Cejudo and his title defense this month.
But with the UFC announcing that the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 24 would receive a shot at the flyweight champion in December, there is no way for “Mighty Mouse” to not be asked about the subject.
As far as Johnson is concerned, he’s content with facing the winner of the reality series – just not so much when the UFC seems to want it to happen.
“I’m fine with having two fights this year, but I don’t want to wait all the way to December,” he said, during a recent interview with Submission Radio. “I would, you know, I’ve told the UFC that I like to stay pretty active and I like fighting in September. That’s kind of like the schedule I’ve been on, fighting April and September. So I want to fight in September, then, you know, if they want to have me fight in February – you know, give the guy who won the Ultimate Fighter December off, then January, February, fighting in February, I’m happy with that. But I like to stay active.
“I don’t like to wait on people to be successful in this sport. Because at the end of the day, my timer and my age is getting up there. And the longer I sit on the shelf, the longer I’m not making money.”
As for his upcoming opponent, Johnson views it as just another challenge. He’s already bested the likes of Joseph Benavidez, Ian McCall, Ali Bagautinov and Kyoji Horiguchi.
“Well they always bring in different challenges. I mean, that’s like the perks of always fighting somebody new,” he said. “But you can always sit down and look at tape, but until you get in there with me or try get in there with those guys, you know, they see it as ‘oh yeah, everybody talks about how Demetrious is fast, his cardio, his wrestling, ability to switch it up, to switch from different arts of combat, you know, fluid’ and when they get in there with me they’re like ‘holy schizer! Yeah this is what we saw on tape and I’m not prepared for it.’ So that’s what I think is going to happen, but we’ll have to see.
“It’s not overcoming a guy like Cejudo or anybody, it’s just me overcoming myself – make sure I go out there, feel good, I get in my rhythm, you know, be sharp and go out there and fight. So you know, I was thinking about it and I was like, you know, when I’m fighting these guys, I’m not fighting these guys. I’m fighting myself. I just gotta go out there and do what I do best, which is win.”
The winner of Season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter will earn a December title fight with the reigning UFC flyweight champion, the promotion announced on Tuesday.
Set to begin later this year, 16 flyweights will compete to become the No. 1 contender in the division. The finale for the show, and title fight, will take place in December.
Currently, Demetrious Johnson is set to defend his 125-pound title against Henry Cejudo later this month at UFC 197.
Below is a press release about the announcement:
The search for the next UFC title contender will unfold on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter as 16 flyweight competitors will compete for a shot at the 125-pound world championship, with the winner to face the UFC flyweight champion at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in December. Tryouts are scheduled for Monday, April 25 in Las Vegas at Palace Station and are open to all competitors aged 21-34 with at least three professional fights and a winning record. The next season of The Ultimate Fighter will begin filming in June and will premiere on FS1 on Wednesday, August 31.
World class coaches, guest coaches, and former opponents of the current champion will be brought in throughout the season to break down film and help the contestants tailor their training to a game plan designed to help them become the next UFC champion. The two finalists will compete in the final episode of the season and the winner will face the flyweight champion at the Finale just days after the season concludes.
Applications, which should be completed and brought to tryouts, can be found online at http://www.ufc.com/TUF24. The athletes will be required to grapple and hit pads, please bring appropriate gear. Applicants will be notified at the end of the day if they have been selected to move on in the casting process. If selected, applicants must be prepared to stay in Las Vegas until Saturday, April 30. All questions can be directed to [email protected].
The Ultimate Fighter, which debuted in 2005, has launched the careers of some of the UFC’s most recognizable names and successful athletes. The series has produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, TJ Dillashaw, Carla Esparza, and Matt Serra, as well as season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader, Nate Diaz, and John Dodson.
The winner of Season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter will earn a December title fight with the reigning UFC flyweight champion, the promotion announced on Tuesday.
Set to begin later this year, 16 flyweights will compete to become the No. 1 contender in the division. The finale for the show, and title fight, will take place in December.
Currently, Demetrious Johnson is set to defend his 125-pound title against Henry Cejudo later this month at UFC 197.
Below is a press release about the announcement:
The search for the next UFC title contender will unfold on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter as 16 flyweight competitors will compete for a shot at the 125-pound world championship, with the winner to face the UFC flyweight champion at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in December. Tryouts are scheduled for Monday, April 25 in Las Vegas at Palace Station and are open to all competitors aged 21-34 with at least three professional fights and a winning record. The next season of The Ultimate Fighter will begin filming in June and will premiere on FS1 on Wednesday, August 31.
World class coaches, guest coaches, and former opponents of the current champion will be brought in throughout the season to break down film and help the contestants tailor their training to a game plan designed to help them become the next UFC champion. The two finalists will compete in the final episode of the season and the winner will face the flyweight champion at the Finale just days after the season concludes.
Applications, which should be completed and brought to tryouts, can be found online at http://www.ufc.com/TUF24. The athletes will be required to grapple and hit pads, please bring appropriate gear. Applicants will be notified at the end of the day if they have been selected to move on in the casting process. If selected, applicants must be prepared to stay in Las Vegas until Saturday, April 30. All questions can be directed to [email protected].
The Ultimate Fighter, which debuted in 2005, has launched the careers of some of the UFC’s most recognizable names and successful athletes. The series has produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, TJ Dillashaw, Carla Esparza, and Matt Serra, as well as season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader, Nate Diaz, and John Dodson.
We must go yet another week without live UFC, but we can provide you with a fight replay.
In this one, check out Henry Cejudo taking out Dustin Kimura on his way to challenging for the UFC flyweight title later this month at UFC 197 vs. Demetrious J…
We must go yet another week without live UFC, but we can provide you with a fight replay.
In this one, check out Henry Cejudo taking out Dustin Kimura on his way to challenging for the UFC flyweight title later this month at UFC 197 vs. Demetrious Johnson.
Apparently Demetrious Johnson doesn’t find Henry Cejudo as worthy a challenger for his UFC Flyweight Championship as the public does.
“Mighty Mouse” spoke about his belief that Cejudo may not have exactly earned a shot at his title while talking with the media at the recent EA Sports UFC 2 launch party in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“There’s guys out there who have fought way tougher competition and have finishes and knockouts on their résumé,” Johnson said. “But since he’s a gold medalist in Olympic wrestling, he’s undefeated … the man is about to fight for a world title and it’s his fourth fight in the UFC. That’s how the business runs.”
The UFC’s reigning flyweight champion added, “This is the easiest sport to get famous real quick in,” Johnson continued. “Nobody can walk onto the NFL and be like, ‘Yo man, I got all this stuff!’ Oh, OK, that’s perfect. Let’s see you do it.
“The man has 10 fights in his total career. That shows you how fast you can jump and get to the pinnacle of this sport real, real fast. I’ve been here for a long, long time.”
Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejduo is set to co-headline the UFC 197 pay-per-view on April 23, 2016. The main event that evening will feature the highly anticipated rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Apparently Demetrious Johnson doesn’t find Henry Cejudo as worthy a challenger for his UFC Flyweight Championship as the public does.
“Mighty Mouse” spoke about his belief that Cejudo may not have exactly earned a shot at his title while talking with the media at the recent EA Sports UFC 2 launch party in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“There’s guys out there who have fought way tougher competition and have finishes and knockouts on their résumé,” Johnson said. “But since he’s a gold medalist in Olympic wrestling, he’s undefeated … the man is about to fight for a world title and it’s his fourth fight in the UFC. That’s how the business runs.”
The UFC’s reigning flyweight champion added, “This is the easiest sport to get famous real quick in,” Johnson continued. “Nobody can walk onto the NFL and be like, ‘Yo man, I got all this stuff!’ Oh, OK, that’s perfect. Let’s see you do it.
“The man has 10 fights in his total career. That shows you how fast you can jump and get to the pinnacle of this sport real, real fast. I’ve been here for a long, long time.”
Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejduo is set to co-headline the UFC 197 pay-per-view on April 23, 2016. The main event that evening will feature the highly anticipated rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
