Demetrious Johnson is a fighter very few can claim to have a win over, but one legend, who managed to triumph over the icon, has revealed exactly how he did it.
In his remarkable career, ‘Mighty Mouse’ proved himself as one of the greatest to have ever set foot inside the octagon.
Utilizing his phenomenal athleticism and unrivaled fight IQ, the American was able to destroy near enough everyone that dared take him on. It usually takes Johnson letting people like Rodtang submit him, for anyone to claim the bragging rights over him.
But on April 24, 2010, at WEC 48, inside the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California, USA, one man not only beat him, but dominated him.
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Brad Pickett reveals the key to beating Demetrious Johnson
Brad Pickett produced a stellar performance against Demetrious Johnson, utilizing his sublime grappling skills to cruise to victory against a man who’d go on to be considered one of the very best to have ever worn the four-ounce gloves.
Now, he’s opened up about how he managed to overcome such a fantastic competitor.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, the 46-year-old said his secret was: “My English wrestling. He was super quick, but I just had very good timing, like the old cliché ‘timing beats speed, accuracy beats power’.
“No matter how quick someone is, if I time them correctly, I can get my takedown. Once they’re on the floor, they’re not quick; that’s how you control someone who’s fast, put them on the floor. speed isn’t as critical.
“He was quick on the floor, but I did manage to put him on the floor multiple times; it was a fun fight. You could tell back then how talented this kid was going to be.
Demetrious Johnson reveals the identity of the opponent ONE Championship pitched him for an epic farewell ‘superfight’ with mixed ruleset
After losing to Pickett, Johnson went back to the drawing board, honed his craft, and established his place as a genuine legend of the sport.
He not only became a title-holder in the UFC, but in ONE Championship as well.
After the 38-year-old retired, the latter promotion inducted him into their Hall of Fame. However, they still weren’t going to let him run off into the sunset without giving him a massive offer first.
Now, Johnson has revealed the opponent ONE Championship pitched him for a monster farewell fight.