Demetrious Johnson Expects To Be Back To His Best At ONE: DAWN OF HEROES

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is hungrier than ever to add to his legacy with success in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

Even though the American is the most dominant World Champion in mixed martial arts history, he has lost none of his fire, and he says he will not let the rising stars in ONE Championship use him as a springboard to the top.

That means Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada can expect to face an incredible challenge when he meets the 32-year-old from Washington in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix semifinals at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES next Friday, 2 August.

A win for Johnson at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines will secure his place in the final at ONE: CENTURY in October. Win that, and he will earn a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Title.

Every other athlete in the tournament sees a win against “Mighty Mouse” as something that can take their career to new heights, but the pre-tournament favorite is determined not to be the victim of a huge upset so he can keep building toward the goal he set when he joined The Home Of Martial Arts.

“I’ve achieved a lot of great things in my career, so every athlete I compete against is going to try to make a name off me,” he says.

“That is totally fine. I’m at the point in my career where I’ve achieved [great things, but they] are in the past. Now I’m looking to build the legacy over here in Asia.

“It’s the second round of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix – there’s something to get excited about.”

Johnson had to navigate a tough challenge from Wada’s countryman Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu to progress through the quarterfinals in his ONE debut back in March, but he rallied for a second-round submission victory.

He has never underestimated the opposition he will have to face in the East, but he now has first-hand experience of the competition on the global stage for martial arts having felt “Little Piranha’s” power in Tokyo.

“Wakamatsu was a game opponent, a very great striker with great movement,” the AMC Pankration representative explains.

“I knew it was going to take a little bit for me to get my hands on him, [but] once the fight got going, I knew I was going to be able to impose my will in the grappling department.

“It was a great experience, and I look forward to my next one in Manila. Wada is a great opponent who has that Japanese samurai spirit.”

“The Sweeper” punched his ticket to the semifinals with a win over Gustavo Balart at ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR, and he has showcased his wide-ranging skill set in four contests in ONE, but Johnson is not worried about anything he brings to the table.

He is prepared to implement his game plan and outclass him in every range – whatever approach the DEEP Flyweight World Champion brings.

“Wada is a great athlete who comes from a great camp. I think we both match up pretty well. He’s well-rounded. I’m well-rounded. We can fight anywhere and at any date,” Johnson explains.

“Nowadays people always focus so much on watching video. I try not to focus on what my opponent is going to do. I focus on what I’m going to go out there and execute.

“At the end of the day, you watch a video, but what you see in a video is not what you get when you go into competition. I’m just looking to go out there, up my game, put my fighting style on him, and see what comes from it.”

Johnson admitted he felt a little pressure for his first match in ONE, but there are no signs of tension ahead of his return against Wada.

The man considered by many to be the greatest athlete the sport has ever seen worked out all of his nerves in the Circle, and even though the target on his back is as big as ever, he is ready to put on a show at the biggest martial arts event in the Philippines’ history.

“Here we go, it’s round two. If we get past Wada, then we get to the final round,” Johnson adds.

“I’m confident because I’m putting in the hours in training to make sure that I go out there and I can be the best athlete that I can be that night.

“It will come down to who is tougher, who wants it more, and who is in better condition.”