Demetrious Johnson’s Plan Is To Finish The Best In The World
This Saturday UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will be looking for his third consecutive title defense when faces Joseph Benavidez for the second time in UFC on Fox 9’s main event.
“Mighty Mouse” originally won the 125-pound belt by defeating Benavidez in a close split decision at UFC 152. He followed that up by beating John Dodson by decision and finishing John Moraga with a fourth round armbar at UFC on Fox 8.
The young flyweight division has been criticized for its relative lack of finishes, something Johnson touched on during tonight’s “UFC Tonight:”
“The plan’s always to finish my opponents, but you know, I’m fighting the best in the world. You know, you look at my last five opponents and they’d never been finished. So it’s pretty hard to put these guys away; they’re the best in the world.”
Johnson may have a point there, as the few top fighters in the 125-pound UFC division are the best of the best. “Mighty Mouse” also discussed his rematch with Benavidez, noting that while he is motivated he has to treat it like just another fight:
“It’s just another fight. This isn’t my first rematch in my career; I fought Ian McCall twice, and it played out in my favor, I won the second fight. So I’ll try to do the same thing this Saturday night against Joseph Benavidez. A lot of people have a hard time finding motivation to beat somebody again, but for me, I have all the motivation in the world.”
The flyweights have gotten the least amount of publicity of all the UFC divisions, but that doesn’t take away from the skill of their champion. Johnson may be the fastest athlete in the UFC, rivaled only by his former opponent Dodson.
Johnson vs. Benavidez II has some big shoes to fill in replacing the formerly scheduled headliner of Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson. While it may be nearly impossible to live up to the excitement generated by a fight featuring “Showtime,” “Mighty Mouse” and “Beefcake” will put on a great show for the fans in Sacramento.
Who is your pick to emerge from the Sleep Train Arena with the championship belt?
