Mighty Mouse Unleashed

Demetrious Johnson, UFC champ, opens up about CM Punk, McGregor Mayweather and the “Cash Me Ousside” girl.

- Brett Okamoto

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson tied one of the most prestigious records in combat sports—Anderson Silva’s mark of 10 consecutive UFC title defenses—with his relentless pounding of challenger Wilson Reis on April 15 in Kansas City. How dominating was he? Try 135 total strikes to just 18 for Reis before ending the fight with an armbar at the end of the third round. The performance ran Johnson’s record to 26–2–1 (his two losses coming at 135 pounds) and added credence to his proclamation that he is the greatest Octagon fighter ever—at 125 pounds or any other class. In an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the 30-year-old proves he won’t duck a question, throwing shots at UFC’s promotional stunts, its pay—and even its fans.

If things continue to go the way they have, how many title defenses will you end up with?

I hope I can get to 20. I’m on pace to get two or three fights per year, and I think I’ve got five or six years left in me. Maybe I’ll get to something like 18 and walk away from the sport—retire as champion. I think 15 to 18 title defenses is something that would be in the record books forever.

Do you feel like the fans and media appreciate what you’ve done?

It goes back and forth, man. MMA has the rudest, most negative, dumbest, ignorant fans in the world—but it also has the most passionate fans in the world. I hear that I should move up in weight all the time. I was at the gym the other day, and some guy was like, “Man, you need to fight [UFC lightweight champion] Conor McGregor!” I’ve been getting that for years, and I’m over it. I want to focus on my division and just smash that record. Just destroy it.