Demetrious Johnson Wins Gold Medal at World IBJJF Championships as Brown Belt

No matter where he competes, Demetrious Johnson always seems to excel.

On Thursday in Las Vegas, the 2023 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship kicked off, and Johnson was among its numerous competitors. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship great and current One Championship titleholder entered into the featherweight category of 154.6 pounds at the Master 2 division for brown belts. Four brackets needed to be established for the 38 men that took part in this specific tourney, and over the course of the day, Johnson won out to stand atop the pedestal.

Johnson, who entered as a low 36 seed, started off his branch of the tournament by running the table in the second bracket. His first match came against Lukas Cherep, and the AMC Pankration fighter pulled off the win. A mere 15 minutes later, “Mighty Mouse” faced the overall no. 1 seed, Josue Lopez, and he was not denied the victory. A subsequent armbar over Walter Diaz propelled him into the top match of his bracket, and he went on to overcome John Fleming to represent Bracket 2 in the semifinals.

In the semis, Johnson battled it out with Hiroshi Baba, who came into the tourney as the 10th seed, and he again prevailed. This set the stage for the finals match, which took place almost exactly two hours after the competitions began. Against Michael Harmeling, the One Championship beltholder claimed a gold medal with his win, having earned six victories against fellow brown belts in the Master 2 category.

Johnson most recently punctuated his trilogy battle in MMA against Adriano Moraes by procuring a decision over his Brazil-based rival for the One 135-pound throne. In 2021, Johnson suffered a knockout loss to “Mikinho,” and he returned the favor a year later to get his strap back. That third match this May against Moraes took place in Colorado, for his first appearance on U.S. soil since his final UFC bout against Henry Cejudo in 2018.

Following that contentious split decision loss, the UFC traded Johnson to One for Ben Askren. Johnson went on to win the One flyweight grand prix and then its belt. Along the way, “Mighty Mouse” strangled Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a matchup of alternating rules, and Johnson noted that he planned on challenging himself in other disciplines going forward, including grappling.

Demetrious Johnson wins gold at World IBJJF Championships as a brown belt! pic.twitter.com/uHNUKYxn4v

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) September 1, 2023