MEET MIGHTY MOUSE!
If you’re a casual watcher of MMA, you might not have heard of Demetrious Johnson. Although the Kirkland, Washington–based mixed martial artist, who now competes for ONE Championship, is respected as perhaps the most skilled technician in the sport, flyweights don’t garner as much press as heavyweights. Some have argued that if Johnson weighed a little more than his 125 pounds and stood a little taller than his 5 feet 3 inches, the man who’s nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” would be as much of a household name as Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Rickson Gracie. He certainly has the right attitude — as you will see.
For our readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you briefly explain your background?
In middle school, I went out for wrestling and did very well that year. I loved the sport. But after I got out of high school, there was no path, no financial reason to pursue wrestling in college or wrestling in the Olympics. There was just no money, so I worked multiple jobs. Then I found mixed martial arts when I was home So I went to the gym and started hitting the bag. I was asked, “You know how to fight?” I was like, “Just like Jean-Claude Van Damme!” Then I started training in mixed martial arts.
