Demetrious Johnson Ready For The High Expectations In One Championship

Demetrious Johnson has yet to have a debut bout announced in One Championship, but he understands the lofty expectations that accompanied his high-profile signing and is facing them head-on.

“Mighty Mouse,” who was released by Ultimate Fighting Championship last month in exchange for One welterweight champ Ben Askren, leaves as the UFC’s all-time record holder for title defenses, having defended the flyweight strap 11 times. While he lost the belt to Henry Cejudo in August by a close split decision, he is still regarded as the greatest flyweight of all time, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world and an odds-on favorite to dominate One Championship’s 125-pound division.

The details of Johnson’s contract with One have been kept under wraps, but he has alluded to it being significantly more lucrative than his UFC deal. Thanks to his flyweight legacy and allegedly hefty price tag, Johnson understands that the spotlight -- and the bull’s eye -- will be on him from Day One.

The 32-year-old recently appeared on BJPenn Radio, where he acknowledged the expectations but claims he is not going to underestimate the challenge ahead.

“I want to be a champion,” Johnson said. “I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s probably going to be the hardest story I have, to become a champion. The reason that I say that [is] now, I’m a lot older. [I’ve] got to take care of my body. I have a lot more travel, I have a lot more fresh competition.

“Everybody in the world is like, ‘Oh, he’s going to come over and clean the whole division out. He’s going to destroy everybody,’” he continued. “I’m going to have some wars. It’s going to be in a lot of battles. Obviously I would love for them to be -- I would go on there and not get injured, but I’m not going to say it’s going to be an easy walk. I know these guys over here are tough. And I know they’re ready for me. I know they’re ready to beat me to make a name for themselves. So, I’m looking forward to the challenge and to see what happens.”