‘He Can Get Caught’- ONE Champ Demetrious Johnson Issues Subtle Warning to Islam Makhachev Ahead of Dustin Poirier Fight

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is all set to face his most significant test yet against former UFC interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier. Both are primed for the main card of UFC 302, with the entire MMA world watching, including Current ONE flyweight world champion, Demetrious Johnson.

Meanwhile, as a seasoned MMA analyst with a decade of experience in the octagon, Demetrious Johnson frequently offers fighters insights into their upcoming bouts. In a recent YouTube video, Johnson delves into Islam Makhachev’s strengths and weaknesses, specifically warning him against repeating the mistakes he made in his fight with Bobby Green in his upcoming fight with Dustin Poirier.

Demetrious Johnson issues warning to Islam Makhachev

While Demetrious Johnson, the former UFC flyweight MMA World champion, may have left the UFC due to contract disputes, that doesn’t stop him from being a dedicated MMA fan. In a recent YouTube video, Johnson enjoys revisiting an older fight from the UFC archives titled “Islam Makhachev’s takedown victory over Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night 202″ in 2022. It’s important to remember that Green took this fight on short notice after Beneil Dariush’s injury withdrawal. However, despite the win, Johnson analyzes Makhachev’s performance, identifying areas for improvement.

After analyzing Makhachev’s takedown of Bobby Green and his ability to identify gaps, Johnson acknowledges, ” I think grappling favors him most, but he can get caught with a left-hand right hand, or whatever it may be. But the one factor he does have over Dustin Poirier is the grappling. He is a better grappler, and that’s okay, right? It’s okay. I feel he’s a better grappler than Dustin Poirier.”

Later, Johnson also emphasizes this point by highlighting Makhachev’s background in sambo, a grappling-heavy martial art. He contrasts this with Poirier’s recent fight against Benoit-saint Denis, where Poirier’s failed Guillotine attempts were widely criticized, even mocked by fighters like Makhachev and Robert Whittaker. Demetrious Johnson’s admiration for Islam Makhachev isn’t new. In fact, a fan since UFC 294, Johnson lauded Makhachev’s performance on his YouTube channel, specifically praising the perfectly timed head kick that knocked our former champion Alexander Volkanovski. Johnson even called the kick remarkable.

Johnson’s accurate prediction of Makhachev’s KO

It’s been months since UFC 294, but Islam Makhachev’s perfectly timed head kick that knocked out former champion Alexander Volkanovski remains one of the best moments of 2023 in MMA. In fact, you might be surprised to know that Demetrious Johnson, also known as “Mighty Mouse,” already gave his verdict on this knockout on his YouTube channel, showcasing his keen understanding of MMA strategy.

Furthermore, this isn’t the first time Volkanovski, and Makhachev have met. They also headlined a UFC event in February 2023, in Perth, where Islam Makhachev again emerged victorious. This fight came about on short notice after Charles Oliveira pulled out due to an upper eye cut injury just days before the fight. Alexander Volkanovski steeped in, despite warnings from “Mighty Mouse” that it wasn’t safe due to the lack of preparation time.

However, this isn’t the first time Demetrious Johnson has shown his keen eye for fight analysis. He frequently offers predictions on his YouTube channel, most recently for a hypothetical matchup between Israel Adesanya and Bo Nickal. Johnson believes Adesanya remains a serious threat, despite challenges from Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. However, he sees Bo Nickal’s wrestling prowess as a potential path to victory for the rising star.

So, what do you think of Demetrious Johnson’s predictions? Do you think he has great potential to be a fight analyst? Let us know in the comments below!