UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson Dominates
This Saturday night Demetrious Johnson once again defends his UFC Flyweight Title as he takes on the Ultimate Fighter winner Tim Elliot. Whilst most agree that Elliot is no match for the champion ‘Mighty Mouse’. This fight and the whole concept behind it represents Johnson’s complete and under dominance at 125lbs.
Six months ago, it was announced that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter would feature. Sixteen Flyweight fighters that were all champions in their respective promotions with the show winner earning a shot at Johnson for the Flyweight title. The announcement came only a couple of weeks after Johnson’s spectacular dismantling of Henry Cejudo, suddenly the UFC was out of challengers for their champion.
Interestingly, Cejudo would coach on the show opposite fellow top contender Joseph Benavidez. That matchup is in itself another example of the kind of champion Johnson has been. Though his talent is undeniable, Benavidez was almost without direction prior to appearing as a coach on the show. Due to his two prior losses to Johnson, the second of which was a violent knockout.
It says a lot about Demetrious Johnson’s status as champion that two fighters as dynamic and skilful as Cejudo and Benavidez. Are not even considered a match anymore for ‘Mighty Mouse’. Benavidez isn’t the only fighter Johnson was defeated at the second time of asking either, in fact, he’s made it one of his specialities.
The first example of Johnson improving in a rematch came in 2012. As a draw meant that he would have to fight Ian McCall again before fighting for the UFC Flyweight Title. After a tough outing the first time around, Johnson fought a much smarter and more nuanced fight in the rematch and came out the clear decision winner.
Winning The UFC Flyweight Title
Demetrious Johnson would, of course, go on to win the Flyweight title, earning a close points win over Joseph Benavidez in their first meeting. It would be in the rematch though that Johnson really put an exclamation mark on his respectful rivalry with Benavidez when, to the surprise of many, he knocked him unconscious.
However, many felt that there was still one viable contender left for Johnson in John Dodson. The two men had first fought in January 2013 and though Johnson came out the close but clear decision winner. Dodson had given him many problems, especially early.
One of the only fighters on earth that could match Johnson’s reflexes and speed, Dodson also brought a power that was rare at 125lbs and even dropped the champion in the second round. ‘Mighty Mouse’ unsurprisingly adapted though and won the last three rounds to retain his title. Dodson’s early success meant that a rematch was an intriguing one though and we’d eventually see it in September 2015. After Johnson had dominated John Moraga, Ali Bagautinov, Chris Cariaso and Kyoji Horiguchi.
Nonetheless, in the rematch, Dodson’s prior success was non-existent as Johnson almost completely shut down all of the challenger’s offence to control the fight for an unarguable decision win. It was a much easier title defence for Johnson and he’d soon wipe out all of his contenders by next finishing Cejudo. And that brings us back to The Ultimate Fighter and the search for a new challenger.
Though Demetrious Johnson knew months ago,it was only last night that we found out that the show’s winner was in fact UFC veteran Tim Elliot. Though all evidence points to another comfortable Johnson title defence. Anything can happen on any given night. Either way, Johnson has already cemented his place as one of the sport’s greatest and most dominant champions of all time and that doesn’t look likely to change anytime soon.
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Image courtesy of mmafighting.com