Israel Adesanya Names a Surprise Fighter as UFC’s Greatest of All Time

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has finally shared his thoughts on who he considers the greatest to ever step inside the cage. Ever since Conor McGregor put out a series of tweets earlier this year, the GOAT discussion has been the talk of the town.

Many have suggested that Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s dominant title reign as the UFC’s lightweight champion and his 29-0 undefeated record makes him the greatest of all time, while others have gone with Jon Jones regardless of the recent lackluster performances.

Needless to say, fighters like Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Conor McGregor are up there in the discussion too. However, the current middleweight champion and arguably one of the best, Israel Adesanya, had an interesting answer.

“Well, if you want to talk about ultimate GOATs, did everyone just forget about Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. If you want to talk about the most consistent, you know you talk about records, fighter of all time.

“F**k weight classes, just the perfect fighter, near perfect, never had one blemish outside the Octagon with steroids or anything like that. Never had any real problems outside the Octagon. Few losses here and there from Cruz and Cejudo. But a phenomenal fighter,” Adesanya said in a recent interview given to Submission Radio.

Israel Adesanya calls Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson the GOAT

Israel Adesanya stated that Johnson was a near-perfect fighter. Additionally, he reminded fans about Johnson’s perfect transition from a slam to an arm-bar finish against Ray Borg back at UFC 216.

“Someone who I would watch, and just be like, how’s his brain processing all this at the same time. The suplex to arm-bar. Stop all that GOAT talk, and jibber-jabber,” Adesanya concluded.

It’s hard not to agree with Israel Adesanya. Demetrious Johnson ruled the UFC’s flyweight division for more than a decade, starting from the WEC. With notable victories over the likes of Henry Cejudo, John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez, and Tim Elliott, Johnson is arguably one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE Championship in return for former welterweight champion Ben Askren back in 2018.

Johnson remains undefeated in ONE. Earlier, former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones had also shared Mighty Mouse’s impressive 12 title defenses inside the UFC’s octagon and hailed him as one of the “big boys” of MMA alongside Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre.