Embracing the Gi and Its Intricacies
While Johnson’s grappling excellence has been on full display under the ONE Championship banner, the fighter is pushing his boundaries further. The end of his MMA career sees him delving deep into the art of submission grappling, with a special focus on understanding and adapting to the rules when competing in a gi. Fascinated by the myriad of strategies and techniques the gi introduces, Johnson has been wholly consumed by this new aspect of combat sport. As a testament to his dedication, the ‘Mighty Mouse’ admitted to sidelining MMA training since his last stint at ONE Fight Night 10.

Johnson’s Thoughts and Upcoming Challenge
During a candid conversation with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Johnson shed light on his passion for the gi. He expressed, “The complexity of what the gi brings to the game is intriguing. In no-gi, I rely heavily on my athleticism. But the gi? It’s a different ball game altogether.” As Johnson steps into the competitive realm of the brown belt Master 2 featherweight division, he’s poised to compete in one of the event’s densest brackets, aiming to leave an indelible mark in pro submission grappling.

As fans and experts keenly await Johnson’s performance, one thing is clear: ‘Mighty Mouse’ is unafraid of reinvention, and his journey from the MMA octagon to the grappling mat promises to be a spectacle.

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in an interview with MMAJunkie Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion and current ONE Championship titleholder, expressed his conviction that Cejudo would have emerged as the victor under the ruleset of his organization. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Johnson highlighted Sterling’s frequent failed takedown attempts and the subsequent use of a prohibited knee strike as pivotal moments in the fight.

“One of the things when I was watching with Matt (Hume), Aljo would shoot – and he did it with Petr Yan – he would shoot and fail his shot, or Henry would sprawl and (Sterling) would sit like this [swings head from side to side]. He would use the (prohibited) knee to a grounded opponent to his advantage,” Johnson explained.

Johnson, renowned for his technical prowess, acknowledged the strategic advantage Sterling gained by exploiting the limitations of Cejudo’s skill set within the UFC rules. However, he firmly believed that if the fight were contested in ONE Championship, Cejudo’s ability to deliver knee strikes to a grounded opponent would have forced Sterling to alter his tactics and likely alter the outcome.

During the fight, Johnson watched intently and even recorded himself urging Cejudo to deliver the knee strikes that were permissible under ONE Championship regulations. His analysis underscored the potential game-changing impact these strikes could have had.

Reflecting on the fight, Johnson shared his disappointment at Cejudo’s narrow loss but commended both fighters for their tenacity and desire to claim the title. He acknowledged the unexpected grappling prowess displayed by Sterling, who managed to take down Cejudo, a decorated Olympic wrestling gold medalist.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t account for Aljo to be able to wrestle with Henry. He is a gold Olympic (wrestling) medalist, obviously. He’s’ never been taken down in his UFC fights. So with Aljo being able to do that and get his back, Aljo wasn’t able to get his submission game going. I know he’s the better grappler, but I felt that Henry did enough to win the fight. Going into the fifth round, I had it even – 2-2 – and I felt Henry did enough to become the new champion,” Johnson asserted.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Johnson expressed his pride in his friend Cejudo’s performance after a three-year hiatus from competition. Cejudo’s ability to return and showcase his skills against a formidable opponent like Sterling left Johnson in admiration. Additionally, Johnson emphasized the importance of staying active as a fighter, acknowledging the challenges of a prolonged layoff and praising Cejudo’s ability to overcome them.

In conclusion, the electrifying clash between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 captivated the combat sports world. While Sterling claimed the victory and the bantamweight title, Demetrious Johnson, a seasoned champion himself, believes that under ONE Championship rules, Cejudo’s fortunes might have been different. With his words resonating throughout the mixed martial arts community, the debate surrounding the impact of different rulesets continues to fuel the excitement and anticipation for future clashes between elite fighters.

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