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EXCLUSIVE | Demetrious Johnson Reveals What Type Of Legacy He Wants To Leave In MMA

Decorated flyweight staple, Demetrious Johnson long ran roughshod over competition amongst the ranks in the UFC, and is largely held in the same esteem as the sport’s greatest fighters — with many even placing the Kentucky native at the lofty top of their respective lists. Johnson, who plys his trade under the ONE Championship banner […]

Johnson, who plys his trade under the ONE Championship banner following a 2018 trade with former UFC welterweight contender, Ben Askren — is currently scheduled to headline a ONE X event later this year against ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai champion, renowned Muay Thai practitioner, Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a special mixed rules contest.

The 35-year-old last competed professionally back at ONE on TNT 1 in April — suffering his first professional knockout loss and the first defeat of his tenure in the Chatri Sityodtong-led promotion, in the form of a second round defeat against ONE flyweight titleholder, Adriano Moraes.

In three prior outings for the organization, Johnson debuted with a second round guillotine win over Yuya Wakamatsu in the ONE flyweight Grand Prix quarter final, before progressing to a final bout with Danny Kingad — which he won following a semi final success against Tatsumitsu Wada.

During his gold-laden tenure with the UFC prior to his 2018 departure, Johnson had lodged a promotional best 11 consecutive successful defenses of his flyweight throne; a record that still stands to this day.

The AMC Pankration and Matt Hume mainstay ended his UFC run with a close split decision loss to eventual two-weight gold holder, Olympic gold medal victor, Henry Cejudo in an August 2018 rematch — however, had enjoyed a stunning winning run prior to the which included victories over Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez (x2), Ali Bagautinov, John Dodson (x2), Kyoji Horiguchi, Wilson Reis, as well as a record-setting flying armbar win over Ray Borg.

Speaking with LowKick MMA reporter, Keelin McNamara recently, Johnson touched on the legacy he would like to leave in the sport when it comes time to permanently called a halt on his illustrious career — explaining how he would like to be remembered as a fighter who just enjoyed the process.

“Humble. Hard worker. Very dynamic,” Demetrious Johnson explained. “He thinks outside of the box. And he enjoyed the ride. When I joined mixed martial arts, I never did it to become a champion. I did it ’cause I had passion. I had fun. I was something to do after work. And he turned it into his career, so that’s all I want to be remembered by. Everybody else can make up their own mind.“

EXCLUSIVE | Chatri Sityodtong Responds To Dana White Comments On DJ vs. Rodtang

ONE Championship leader, Chatri Sityodtong has given his response following recent comments made by UFC president, Dana White in relation to the upcoming special rules showdown between former UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson and Muay Thai ace, Rodtang Jitmuangnon on December 5. Sityodtong, the CEO of Singapore-based organization, ONE Championship, confirmed recently that Johnson, a […]

Sityodtong, the CEO of Singapore-based organization, ONE Championship, confirmed recently that Johnson, a former flyweight champion under the UFC’s banner as well as the 2019 ONE Flyweight Grand-Prix champion, would match with current flyweight Muay Thai champion, Rodtang in a four round special rules clash in a headlining tilt at ONE X.

Rounds number one and three will take place under the ONE MMA ruleset, whilst the second and fourth, and final round will take place under the ONE Muay Thai ruleset.

Much has been made regarding the almost hybrid showcase between Johnson and Rodtang, however, the aforenoted, White believes ONE Championship is attempting to throw the “kitchen sink” in a bid to stop “bleeding money“.

“I just think that mixing those things up is weird and won’t work,” White told assembled media following the Contender Series this week. “But if you have a company and you’re bleeding money, you start throwing the kitchen sink at the thing.“

Speaking with LowKick MMA reporter, Michael Clifton, ONE Championship head-honcho, Sityodtong explained the reasoning behind the matchup, claiming that the promotion wanted to make something “unique“.

“We (ONE Championship) wanted to do something very unique and special for our ten-year anniversary and do something that was out of the box, crazy — and at the same time, really bring out the very best of these two GOATs,” Chatri Sityodtong said.

In regards to those prior comments made by White, Sityodtong claimed that the promotional leader didn’t know anything about the sport of Muay Thai.

“I respect Dana (White); he is obviously a great fight promoter, but he doesn’t know anything about Muay Thai,” Sityodtong said. “I think this is one for the ages. It’s going to be very like the glory days of PRIDE which I would argue to this day, still has the hearts of minds of every hardcore MMA fan, and this kind of fight has this feel to it.“

Given the special rules nature of the upcoming clash of Johnson and Rodtang, Sityodtong believes the unique sanctioned bout allows both sides to utilise their best tools over the course of the entire contest.

“Oftentimes we will see in Western MMA is lay and pray, you will take someone down and just hold; that is not real martial arts to me; that’s a rule-based game,” Sityodtong said. “Real martial arts is about I have a skill set, and my job is to finish him or her, and so its a really intriguing fight; even more as a fight fan, I am just grateful that DJ and Rodtang are super excited to face each other in the prime of their careers and yet given each other a rule set that allows each other’s strengths to play out.“

Are you as excited as Chatri Sityodtong about Demetrious Johnson vs. Rodtang?

Exclusive: Chatri Sityodtong Believes Christian Lee Is ‘Greatest Lightweight On The Planet’

ONE Championship Lightweight king Christian Lee will mount the third defense of his title this week when he takes on South Korea’s Ok Rae Yoon in the main event of ONE: Revolution in Singapore on Friday, September 24. The The 23-year-old is riding a six-fight winning streak; his last two wins were opening round victories […]

The The 23-year-old is riding a six-fight winning streak; his last two wins were opening round victories over Timofey Nastyukhin and Iuri Lapicus. Two men, many thought, would provide a real test for Lee. Victory against Ok would see Lee holding wins over all five of the ranked fighters in ONE’s lightweight division.

ONE CEO and founder Chatri Sityodtong has followed Lee’s progress since he first arrived at the promotion in 2015 and believes the Hawaiian-based fighter now sits atop of the lightweight division not just in ONE, but in all of MMA.

“I would argue he is the greatest lightweight on the planet today. I think he would clean out any lightweight division in any organization,” Sityodtong says, speaking to LowkickMMA.

“He had always had that flash of brilliance, that x-factor if you will, even when he was 17, but today at 23, he is far more dangerous, far more confident, and yet he has a really calm, mature approach to the game, which is very surprising.”

Facing off against Lee on Friday night is a fighter with nothing to prove and everything to gain. Ok made a name for himself at his promotional debut last April, when he defeated former ONE Featherweight Champion Marat Gafurov. A week later, he followed that win with an impressive victory over former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alveraz.

“Ok is one of these fighters, is great everywhere, and is very durable and resilient, and he is very rough to finish. When we signed Ok we knew he was coming from Korea’s top team, and we had heard how tough he was, “Sityodtong says, discussing Ok’s rapid rise in the ONE lightweight division.

“Ok Rae Yoon, beat Eddie Alveraz convincingly and dominated him; he is a dangerous fighter,” he added.

Lee is still a few years away from reaching his physical peak, but anyone who has seen him fight would recognize that he is one of the most promising talents in MMA. He has stated that he plans to finish Ok in the first round. It would be another feather in his cap if he does, and a win this Friday could then see Lee decide to make a run at the ONE welterweight title, a move he has hinted at before.

“What makes him very special is his championship mindset, and he is very calm, cool, and collected mentally,” Sityodtong explains.

“He does not get swayed by the big fight, the big audience, the big buzz, the big PR. He is just a world championship fighter, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. “

Come Friday night; Lee will once again get the chance to show this championship mindset inside Singapore’s Indoor Stadium.

Do you think Lee is one of the best lightweights in the world?

EXCLUSIVE | James Yang Talks His Origins, Aspirations & Training With ‘Mighty Mouse’

A few days ago, I had the distinct pleasure of talking in-depth with James Yang, the widely respected training partner of Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson who is scheduled to make his debut against Roel Rosauro at ONE Championship: “Revolution” on September 24. The first thing that strikes me immediately about James is his brightness, warmth, […]

The first thing that strikes me immediately about James is his brightness, warmth, and sincerity – he is truly welcoming and open to talking to me; he is very positive and open to sharing his honest truth, something that is highly appreciated by all in our world.

By far one of the most intriguing aspects of James’ story is its actual origin. When I asked James about how he made his start in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, James went right back to the beginning and said,

“I started with Kung-Fu, traditional southern-style Kung Fu. I got my start in a dungy garage in Chinatown, and I was like, the only kid there. All of the guys there were these hardened dudes, ex-military types…ex boxers, karate-Kyokushin types, security guard type guys, and they kind of just groomed me and raised me…. Martial Arts has always been my number one passion, and it’s the one thing that I’ve always wanted to do.”

When asked about the gap in activity in his career so far, James confirmed that it was largely a lack of available and willing opponents that contributed to said absence. He explained the extent of this by saying,

“My last two fights were against BJJ black belts in pure grappling matches…I submitted them both.”

It’s quite surprising that James has been reducing to going into the comfort zone of other Mixed Martial Artists just to stay active.

When asked about his relationship with Demetrious Johnson, James displayed his typical humility and respect that really encompasses him as a Martial Artist. He was incredibly proud of how much both he and Johnson learn from each other, how they are always in each other’s corner, and how they both try to push each other the hardest that they can. He was also emphatic when asked about how “Mighty Mouse” will bounce back following his most recent loss. James said:

“I think it’s motivated him and put a fire under him…he handled it (the loss to Moraes) better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

One of the biggest questions I put to James (but certainly not the only one) was how he would like his eventual legacy to be seen and thought of by fans in years to come. Like with every question, James’ answer was as honest and refreshing as it was contemplative. He said:

“I just want to make sure that my future fighting career is something that future fighters can look up to and aspire to and motivate the next generation. You have to consider the trajectory of the fight game in the next 20 years from now…I want it to go down a respectful path, where it’s like any sport, where people can take it home to their family and children and enjoy it.”

Make sure to check out the rest of this interview. James Yang is a truly fantastic example to the world of MMA, and his answers are incredibly reflective of the person offering them. Check out his ONE debut against Roel Rosauro at ONE: “Revolution” as well!

Will you be watching James Yang make his professional debut on September 24?

Dan Hardy Eyes ONE Championship Fights With Eddie Alvarez & Shinya Aoki

Dan Hardy’s long-awaited and eagerly anticipated return to fighting appears to be closer than ever. ‘The Outlaw’ hasn’t fought since beating Amir Sadollah by decision in 2012. Soon after Hardy was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome which appeared to bring a premature end to his fight career. Hardy is now able […]

Dan Hardy’s long-awaited and eagerly anticipated return to fighting appears to be closer than ever.

‘The Outlaw’ hasn’t fought since beating Amir Sadollah by decision in 2012. Soon after Hardy was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome which appeared to bring a premature end to his fight career.

Hardy is now able to fight again and has been talking up a return to the Octagon for some time now. Unfortunately, the Englishman’s relationship with the UFC recently went south, leading to his firing from broadcast duties and ultimately his release from the promotion entirely.

The 39-year-old now appears to be on the verge of booking a fight against John Wayne Parr under the ONE Championship banner.

In an interview with Asian MMA, Hardy was already looking ahead to who could be next after he fights Parr.

“On the back of that (fight) I’d be walking around at about 175lb which opens up a lot of options,” Hardy said. “There are a lot of interesting fights in that region. From MMA to kickboxing to Muay Thai to boxing.”

Hardy likes the idea of fighting the former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez who is currently competing in ONE Championship’s 170lb division.

“I think Eddie (Alvarez) is a good pick. I’ve got a lot of respect for Eddie and for his team. And it would be a fight that would interest the fans,” Hardy said. “I think ONE would like it because it would engage the western audience a bit more where they’re more familiar with the likes of Eddie Alvarez. He’s a former multiple time world champion, he’s the king of the underground. It would be a hell of a fight!”

“The other one that springs out it Shinya Aoki,” Hardy added. He’s a whole other kind of puzzle to solve. I watched a couple of his recent fights and he’s just as slick as he was 5-10 years ago but he’s not nearly as reckless anymore. He’s so much more measured now. That (Aoki) would be an entirely different training camp. I’d have to bring in specialists for that, I’d have to travel a bit more for that. So as I’m going up the levels, that would be another fight on the list.” (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Who do you want to see Dan Hardy fight?

Dan Hardy ‘Most Interested’ In Caged Muay Thai ONE Championship Fight With John Wayne Parr

Former UFC welterweight title challenger and colour-commentator, Dan Hardy has claimed that he’s “most interested” in a proposed caged Muay Thai clash with veteran kickboxer, John Wayne Parr under the ONE Championship banner — but stressed that he had numerous options on the table. Nottingham native, Hardy was granted his release upon request from the […]

Former UFC welterweight title challenger and colour-commentator, Dan Hardy has claimed that he’s “most interested” in a proposed caged Muay Thai clash with veteran kickboxer, John Wayne Parr under the ONE Championship banner — but stressed that he had numerous options on the table.

Nottingham native, Hardy was granted his release upon request from the promotion recently, after he explained how the UFC would no longer be interested in booking him opposite fellow veterans like Donald Cerrone, Nick Diaz, or one-time foe, Carlos Condit. Following confirmation of his release, Hardy is not free to field offers for other interested promotions.

The 39-year-old has been linked to a potential move to Chatri Sityodtong‘s Singapore-based banner, ONE Championship, having claimed that a caged Muay Thai matchup with Queensland veteran, Parr — and according to him, both men have a verbal agreement to meet, with terms with ONE Championship all that is needed to bring the bout into reality.

“A comment was made the other day by John Wayne Parr saying he’d be keen to fight me if I was to step into hte ONE (Championship) circle,” Hardy told MMA Junkie. “That is the fight that makes sense. I’ve got a lot respect for John Wayne Parr. He’s a dangerous Muay Thai fighter who, I’m stepping into his rule set, but with my gloves. So I think we’ll have a lot of fun, and it’s an ideal first fight back for me because I can focus on the striking arts, then maybe move on to a different rule set after — maybe MMA or kickboxing.“

“It’s agreed between John (Wayne Parr) and I, but we need to come to an agreement with ONE Championship,” Hardy explained. “There are a couple of options on the table elsewhere, but that’s the one I’m most interested in right now.“
The veteran former title challenger has yet to compete professionally since a homecoming UFC Fight Night Nottingham outing opposite Amir Sadollah back in September of 2012. Hardy would score a unanimous decision victory over the Brooklyn native.

The former two-weight Cage Warriors champion holds a professional record of 25-10 — which includes a résumé littered with wins over the likes of Daniel Weichel, Akihiro Gono, Rory Markham, Marcus Davis, Mike Swick, and Duane Ludwig to name a few.

45-year-old veteran striker, Parr last featured professionally under the ONE Championship banner back in April of this year at ONE on TNT 3 where he suffered a second round high-kick knockout defeat to decorated Dutch kickboxer, Nieky Holzken.

Boasting a 99-34-1 professional record kickboxing competition, the storied Australian has bested the likes of common-foe, Ludwig, Cosmo Alexandre, Mike Zambidis, Dmitry Valent, Yodsanklai Fairtex, Jordan Tai, UFC lightweight contender, Brad Riddell, and Marco Pique.