“I just wanna enjoy what I’ve done and walk away.” With these simple but powerful words, flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson brought the curtain down on an extraordinary career last September. Stepping away from the ONE Championship spotlight, ‘Mighty Mouse’ officially retired, concluding a remarkable 17-year journey in mixed martial arts. Over the course of 16 years inside the cage, ‘DJ’ not only built a reputation as one of the most technically gifted fighters of all time but also maintained a spotless image.

He etched his name into the record books, most notably by holding the UFC record for the most consecutive title defenses (11), all in the flyweight division. Even after parting ways with the UFC, his greatness didn’t waver. Johnson thrived in ONE Championship, where he added another title to his collection and even participated in a unique special rules bout against Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon, alternating rounds between MMA and Muay Thai.

As expected, Johnson emerged victorious, further cementing his legacy on the global stage. But with so much success behind him, what made ‘Mighty Mouse’ walk away? Nearly eight months into retirement, Johnson sat down with 1st Phorm and shared the deeper truth behind his decision: “I’ve always loved the process of training and getting ready for fights,” said DJ.

“That’s why I still train jiu-jitsu to this day — I just love preparing to compete. That feeling will never go away. What I fell out of love with was the politics,” Johnson continued. “I didn’t enjoy the press conferences, the media obligations — I just didn’t care about any of that. I didn’t even care about being the best in the world anymore. And I just… I just didn’t care.”

“There came a point where I asked myself, ‘Is this it? Is this what my life is going to be — the sum of everything I do?” the flyweight GOAT reflected. “And that’s when it hit me. I said, ‘You know what? I think I’m done. I’ve had enough.”

Johnson opened up about what led to his decision — it wasn’t the fights inside the cage that he had fallen out of love with, but rather the politics and outside obligations that drained his energy and passion. Despite retiring from MMA, he hasn’t stepped away from competition altogether. Instead, he’s continued to sharpen his skills in gi grappling. His journey into grappling began back in 2015 at the IBJJF Masters World Championship, where he faced brown belt masters and triumphed, defeating six opponents that night.

Since then, he’s remained a force on the mats. Even in retirement, Demetrious Johnson is still pushing his limits, taking on new challenges and side quests that keep his competitive drive alive. So, what’s next for the flyweight GOAT?

Will Demetrious Johnson end his retirement?

Demetrious Johnson, having taken inspiration from Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre regarding retirement, now enjoys life outside the cage. In addition to continuing his grappling pursuits, Johnson has turned his attention to his YouTube channel and podcast. He’s also ventured into the gaming streaming business, which has become a newfound passion. Remember the friendship between DJ and Khabib over a video game that led to Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s cousin, causing him to lose a win streak? Despite retiring from MMA, DJ is now fully immersed in these new endeavors, establishing multiple sources of income.

At 38 years old, while Johnson has officially stepped away from MMA, his love for boxing remains. He hinted at a potential return during a conversation with Renato Moicano last year. However, despite receiving offers, Johnson feels no desire to re-enter the sport. In an interview with MMA Junkie last month, DJ expressed his thoughts clearly:

“There’s no point to it. There’s got to be a point in time when it’s like, ‘OK, when is it enough?’ I felt that after the Adriano (Moraes) fight, this is the pinnacle. I was UFC champion, I was a ONE Championship champion, there’s nothing else for me to prove here…I’ve had offers come in. I’ve had great offers, had a few offers come in, and I’m like, ‘No, I’m good,’ because I feel I try to be a man of my word. I told myself that I was never going to take a fight to make money.”

What do you think about Demetrious Johnson’s perspective? Do you find his sentiments relatable for other fighters, or do you think this mindset is part of what’s fueled his success and longevity? Share your thoughts below.