Video
Demetrious Johnson, one of UFC's best flyweights opens up on UFC drama and walking away | The Pivot
General Sports
Demetrious Johnson, one of UFC's best flyweights opens up on UFC drama and walking away | The Pivot
The Pivot Podcast›
Mar 10, 202652:49290.5K views
Mentioned in this video
Pivot Family! hit the button to .youtube.com/channel/UCUnxiP7q4RDDyeioZFZLnXA?sub_confirmation=1
"I produced some badass fights for UFC...and they were waiting for me to lose."- Demetrious Johnson On this episode of The Pivot Podcast, the guys sit down with one of the most technically brilliant fighters in combat sports history, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
Widely considered one of the greatest flyweights of all time, Johnson opens up about the journey that shaped him — from a difficult childhood to becoming a global MMA icon to the disappointment of never having the fight platform he earned.Johnson reflects on growing up with a deaf mother and the responsibility and resilience that came with it. Not meeting his biological father until later in life, Demetrious' mom and sister were always at forefront of his choices, as he worked to turn his aggression and frustration into championship wrestling and competition skills. He shares how those early experiences forged the discipline and mindset that would later define his career. The conversation dives into the highs and lows of his time in the UFC, the challenges he faced during turbulent moments in the promotion, and the pivotal decision that led him to continue his legacy on the global stage of MMA.
Beyond championships and highlight-reel finishes, Johnson talks about what the sport has meant to him and the mark he hopes to leave behind. He discusses the evolution of mixed martial arts, his role in elevating the flyweight division, and how he wants to be remembered by the next generation of fighters. A complicated and often misunderstood relationship with Dana White led to Demetrious being a part of history, as the first trade in MMA with Ben Askren going to the UFC while DJ landed in a different MMA platform. Ryan goes in-depth about the elite skill set that defined DJ's career, how he ranks amongst the top MMA fighters and how his legacy is remembered. Outside the cage, the conversation turns personal. Johnson opens up about fatherhood, marriage, and the balance between being a world-class athlete and a present husband and dad. It’s a candid and thoughtful look at the man behind “Mighty Mouse,” his values, and the legacy he’s building both inside and outside the cage as well as raising children with transparency and exposing them to the harsh realties of culture, race and social issues facing the world now.
A powerful conversation about perseverance, humility, and greatness you don't want to miss...Pivot Family, comment, like, hit the !
GET MERCH HERE: pivotpodcast.com
FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST:
INSTAGRAM | instagram.com/thepivot
TWITTER | twitter.com/thepivot
TIKTOK | tiktok.com/@thepivot
FACEBOOK | facebook.com/thepivotpodcast
SPOTIFY | open.spotify.com/show/5KtXTWiC3J5WW1CVTpYG5V
APPLE PODCASTS | podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pivot-podcast/id1603292451
Frequently asked
Where can I watch this?
Press play above — the video streams right here. The free Spot Sports app also queues clips like this one alongside your followed teams and athletes, plus live ufc scores.
Where is Demetrious Johnson, one of UFC's best flyweights opens up on UFC drama and walking away | The Pivot from?
From the The Pivot Podcast channel. Tap the channel link below the title to browse more uploads.
How do I get notified when Demetrious Johnson appears in new highlights?
Follow Demetrious Johnson in the Spot Sports app — new highlight videos and podcast appearances push to your feed automatically.
What is the cheapest way to watch ufc live?
Spot Sports' watch-cost tool maps your zip to the cheapest legal stack for ufc games, accounting for DMA-locked RSNs, league passes, and direct-to-consumer apps.
