Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson suffered his first stoppage career loss against ONE Championship flyweight champion, Adriano Moraes. The 31-year-old Brazilian, Moraes, landed a perfectly timed knee on ‘Mighty Mouse’ when the latter was grounded. As ONE Championship allows knees to a grounded opponent, it wasn’t an illegal move and Moraes retained his throne.
‘Mighty Mouse’ is arguably the greatest fighter to ever compete in MMA, but hardcore fans know that Moraes is a world-beater in his own right. Hence, the ‘DJ’s loss will not stain his exceptional career by any means.
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The duo shared a heart-warming moment as they interacted in the locker room after the fight.
Nothing but respect 🤝 @adrianomkmoraes @MightyMouse #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/YtRyyxSeyX
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021
Moraes showed the amount of respect he possesses for Johnson. ‘Mighty Mouse’ carries an unmatched legacy in the sport and is a respected individual among fellow competitors across the world.
The win will go down as the biggest achievement of Moraes’s career to date. The champion also offered ‘Mighty Mouse’ a rematch whenever the latter wants.
Moraes caught Johnson with an uppercut as the latter was shooting for a takedown. He then landed a knee on him and finished the fight via a barrage of punches. He proved once again why he is considered as one of the finest fighters of the Asian promotion. Considering Johnson’s legacy, one might expect the duo to rematch soon.
Was this Demetrious Johnson’s most stunning defeat?
Though ‘DJ’ had been beaten in his stellar professional career, he had never been finished. Brad Pickett, Dominick Cruz, and Henry Cejudo defeated him by decisions. Now, in his 35th fight as a professional, finally ‘Mighty Mouse’s long streak of never having been finished is over.
Johnson won the flyweight Grand-Prix, which set him up for a clash against the champion, Moraes. The fight was expected to take place in 2020, but due to COVID issues, it got postponed, and finally, in 2021, the duo clashed.
However, fans know Moraes’s ability as a fighter and the result may not have been as stunning to them. However, in the eyes of the casual fans, this bout may usurp the UFC 227 contest as Johnson’s most stunning defeat.
What did you make of Demetrious Johnson’s title fight loss? Let us know.
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