#demetriousjohnson

Following the successful blockbuster that was ONE: A NEW TOMORROW in Bangkok, Thailand, ONE Championship has released exciting news about their April card in China.

A clash between the world’s greatest flyweights is set to take place at the promotion’s debut in Chongqing, China on Saturday, 11 April.

In a Facebook post, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes will defend his belt against ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES.

After the conclusion of the incredible ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship at ONE: CENTURY last October, fans have been waiting to see the inevitable showdown between the two premier flyweights in mixed martial arts.

Moraes was last seen in action back in January 2019. The Brazilian had just put to bed his longstanding rivalry with Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, earning a huge victory to reclaim the ONE Flyweight World Title in a highly entertaining rubber match.

Meanwhile, Johnson found himself inserted into the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals in March and proceeded to tear through the competition.

The Washington native’s sparkling 3-0 run through the tournament included two unanimous decisions and a second-round submission to set him up for a shot at Moraes’ belt.

First, “Mighty Mouse” fought off a spirited challenge from Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu to submit the Japanese athlete via guillotine choke and advance to the semifinals.

Then, he overcame Wakamatsu’s compatriot, Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada, with a unanimous decision victory to punch his ticket to the finals in Tokyo, Japan.

Johnson earned the tournament’s silver belt – his first in The Home Of Martial Arts – after dismantling Filipino sensation Danny “The King” Kingad in the finals.

Widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, the American is still hungry to prove himself in competition.

“Mikinho” will be the American’s toughest assignment yet – his six career submission wins makes him a certifiable threat on the ground.

If Moraes can find a way past “Mighty Mouse,” it will further his legacy as the greatest flyweight in ONE history.

More announcements about ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES are expected in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, ONE Championship looks to top their opening show of 2020 with ONE: FIRE & FURY on 31 January in Manila, Philippines.

Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live and for free.

Read More From ONE Championship:

Adriano Moraes Reveals His Vision For A Historic 2020

Demetrious Johnson Reveals His Biggest Goals For 2020

After a great first year in ONE Championship, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson craves even more success in 2020.

Earlier this year, the American embarked on a sterling 3-0 run against top-shelf opposition in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix and emerged triumphant with another World Title belt to add to his collection.

Despite having earned his shot against the division’s reigning king Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes, Johnson is also focused on other goals in 2020.

“Looking to 2020, I just want to be successful – whether that’s winning the flyweight belt against Adriano Moraes or anything else,” he said.

“I just like to be successful, and for me, that’s always been the biggest thing as an athlete, a businessman, or however people like to look at me.”

Be it in his gaming ventures as an ambassador for ONE Esports or his conquests in the Circle as a flyweight legend, “Mighty Mouse” is always looking to make an impact.

“Whether it’s in 2021, 2022, or 2023, I’m still being successful, creating buzz, and watching my brand get bigger. That’s my biggest goal in 2020,” he said.

“Mighty Mouse” might have blazed his path through the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, but the American admits the fast-paced nature of the tournament – three matches in seven months – surprised him.

“For me, if I wanted to top 2019, it would just be having success and no injuries. As much as I wanted to fight, three fights were a bit too much – but I was able to pull it off,” he said.

Now that he has captured the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship belt, the Washington native has turned his attention toward keeping himself in the best condition possible to compete at the highest level.

“I’m not in the business of rushing fights and trying to get as many as possible. Last year, it was because it was a tournament and we needed to bang them out. But this year, it’s a totally different ball game,” he said.

Unlike many of his peers, Johnson’s longevity is unparalleled and each impressive performance only serves to reinforce his greatness.

The American’s experiences in topflight mixed martial arts competitions have taught him valuable lessons and helped shaped his mental approach to the game.

“When you’re doing this for so long, you see a lot of athletes come through and say, ‘I want to be a champion.’ I just want to be successful,” he said.

“I’ve been a champion for a very long time. I just won the World Grand Prix. I have not captured the ONE flyweight belt yet, but that’s not the end goal. The end goal is success year after year after year. That’s my focus.”

In the meantime, The Home Of Martial Arts returns to action on 10 January for ONE: A NEW TOMORROW at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Read More From ONE Championship:

Puja Tomar Is Ready For The Biggest Match Of Her Life

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Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson marches toward the ONE Flyweight World Title.

Next stop: Tokyo, Japan, where fellow finalist Danny “The King” Kingad lies in wait on the other side of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix final bracket.

At ONE: DAWN OF HEROES, the 32-year-old American extended his successful run in The Home of Martial Arts after picking up a unanimous decision win over Japanese rival Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada.

The promotion’s flyweight division boasts such a stacked roster, that even a champion of Johnson’s caliber faced a stern test against Wada.

After years of top-flight professional competition, “Mighty Mouse” has seen it all, and the Washington native is all but ready for quality opposition.

“I always knew the athletes in ONE Championship would be tough,” Johnson said following the match. “He was very tricky, very well experienced, and at the end of the day, these are always going to be tough fights.”

A three-round battle with his Japanese rival left the flyweight legend with fresh insight just two months before the historic ONE: CENTURY, which commemorates the promotion’s 100th live event.

“I always expect myself to get a finish, and I wasn’t able to, but I’m ok with it. I’m happy and healthy, and now I’m looking forward to competing in Tokyo,” Johnson said.

With his semifinal bout in the rear-view mirror, Johnson kept his eye on the other side of that night’s bracket. In that bout, Kingad finessed Australia’s Reece McLaren with some fine grappling to earn a split-decision win.

“I watched it live, and it was a great performance,” Johnson said. “Reece is a very tough competitor. It was a great grappling exchange and I’m looking forward to taking Kingad on in Japan.”

Johnson, an AMC Pankration product, will be taking some lessons from his match with Wada in the hopes that they will translate to a better prepared “Mighty Mouse” in Tokyo.

“If you look at my fight with Wada, when he got position on my back, he was not being very offensive because he knew if he did, then I would get out,” Johnson explained. 

“Right when he started to be offensive at the end of the first round, that’s when I was able to reverse the situation, so his aggression can work against him.”

His recent two bouts have provided ample competition, and it could be a fitting prologue for what to expect from Johnson as he prepares for the tournament final in the Japanese capital.

At the very least, Johnson has his health and fitness in good condition before he locks in for final preparations as Tokyo beckons.

“Right now, my body is fine, it’s just bumps and bruises from fighting in general,” Johnson remarked. “I’m going to let that heal up and give my body two weeks of no activity – just a bit of light cardio – and then pick up from there.”

A long-awaited break seems well overdue for Johnson, who has chased championship titles in a career going on 12 years, but that will have to wait until after Tokyo.

“I’m just concentrating on what’s right in front of me,” Johnson said. “I’m pretty sure [Adriano Moraes] will be ready to get back in there soon, but after this fight, I’m going to step back and appreciate what I have just done – three fights since March at the age of 32 against top-level opponents – and winning the World Grand Prix.”

Want to catch the latest action from ONE Championship? Watch ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD on Friday, 16 August on Toggle at 8.30pm Singapore Standard Time.

At 10:00pm SGT, Channel 5 will cut into the live broadcast, just in time for the main and co-main events.

Martial arts fans in Singapore should have been on the lookout last week.

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson was in town to soak up the Singaporean experience and weather before he flew to Manila, Philippines for ONE: DAWN OF HEROES.

This Friday, 2 August, the American faces Japan’s Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada in the semifinals of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix at the Mall Of Asia Arena in the Philippine capital.

Outside of the usual media responsibilities, “Mighty Mouse” split his time between training at Evolve MMA and sightseeing in the Lion City.

In just his second visit here, the Washington native was already impressed with the garden city-state.

“I just love how clean it is,” remarked Johnson. “I’m taking my wife to Gardens by the Bay. I saw a picture and it looks like a scene from the movie Avatar.”

Johnson also got his daily fill of protein, thanks to one of his favorite restaurants after his first visit to Singapore.

“The steaks at CUT [by Wolfgang Puck Steakhouse] are absolutely amazing,” Johnson recalled. “Also, I love Shakefarm, and I’m always headed there after I’m done with my training at Evolve.”

Thanks to ONE’s hydration policy, Johnson does not need to obsess over cutting weight and can instead afford to enjoy the food in Singapore.

The 32-year-old got his first taste of durian - a fruit that divides most of Asia because of its pungent smell - during a media shoot recently, and it looks almost certain to be his last.

“Someone brought me durian in the office,” Johnson said with a laugh. “The moment it came, I was like, ‘Man, is there a gas leak in here?’ I tried it, but man, that smell was awful.”

Though Johnson does not like the taste of durian, the multiple-time World Champion has definitely acquired a taste for Singapore’s different cultures.

“There is so much diversity here,” Johnson explained. “You have so many different ethnicities all living together.”

But now, with ONE: DAWN OF HEROES just a few days away, “Mighty Mouse” has turned his attention to his tilt with Wada.