Demetrious Johnson Retires From Professional Fighting

Demetrious Johnson, regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, announced his retirement during ONE Championship 168 in Denver on September 7. He is the first fighter to be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame, and UFC president Dana White confirmed that he would also be included in the UFC Hall of Fame, despite their previously contentious relationship. Johnson's career highlights include being the inaugural UFC flyweight champion and defending his title a record 11 times. White acknowledged Johnson's impressive career but faced backlash from fans who remembered his earlier criticisms of Johnson, including issues related to pay and promotion. Johnson's final fight was a victory against Adriano Moraes in May 2023, bringing his professional record to 25 wins, four losses, and one draw. Despite White's supportive comments, many fans expressed skepticism about his sincerity given the history between Johnson and the UFC.