Demetrious Johnson Announces Retirement From MMA; Former UFC and ONE Flyweight Champion | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

Flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson announced his retirement from MMA on Friday at ONE 168.

It was with emotion that Johnson bid farewell to the sport and became the first person to be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame.

The 38-year-old boxer leaves the ring with a professional record of 25-4-1. His last fight saw him win the deciding match against Adriano Moraes by unanimous decision in May 2023.

He made his professional debut in 2009 and signed with the UFC in 2011. In 2012, he was crowned the inaugural flyweight champion after defeating Ian McCall and then Joseph Benavidez in a four-man tournament.

Johnson then put the UFC flyweight division in a metaphorical predicament. He successfully defended his title in 11 consecutive fights, breaking Anderson Silva’s record.

Henry Cejudo finally ended Johnson’s streak by winning a split decision at UFC 227 in August 2018 to become the new flyweight champion.

Johnson joined ONE Championship later that year in what amounted to a trade that sent Ben Askren the other way to the UFC. He defeated Yuya Wakamatsu by submission in his first ONE fight in March 2019. Although his first attempt at ONE’s flyweight belt fell short, resulting in a knockout loss to Moraes in 2021, he avenged the defeat in 2022.

Johnson’s retirement means ONE needs a new flyweight champion, with the title now vacant.