“I’d rather focus on that” - Demetrious Johnson at peace with MMA retirement, would rather build meaningful relationships with athletes

Former ONE Championship and UFC flyweight champion and mixed martial arts legend 'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson admits he has fully moved on from his fighting career, and hasn't looked back.

Johnson retired from the sport that made him famous in 2024, laying down his gloves in a tearful ceremony at a ONE Championship event.

Now, the 38-year-old veteran wants to focus on helping up-and-coming fighters reach their full potential by sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience.

'Mighty Mouse' told MMA Fighting in a recent interview:

"Travel the world and talk to so many different athletes. And not just athletes, but just amazing people. I’d rather focus on that than coming back and fighting. For what?"

Johnson does not see the point in returning to the cage after having already proven himself time and again as one of the all-time greats.

Many fans consider Johnson one of, if not the greatest MMA fighter of all time. And his body of work certainly speaks for itself.

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Demetrious Johnson is enjoying the quiet family life: "I’d rather sit here in my office"

Does Demetrious Johnson miss the daily grind of hard training in the gym? Not the least, according to the YouTube streamer.

Johnson has traded a life of fighting for a presence online as an influencer in the gaming niche and a martial arts podcaster, which he fully enjoys.

He told MMA Fighting:

"I’d rather sit here in my office, in my beautiful home with my beautiful children, be able to go to their football games, be able to take time to his jiu-jitsu tournaments and his jiu-jitsu classes, be at my daughter’s gymnastics and keep on doing the Mighty Cast and looking for guests and start building my studio for the road. I mean, that sounds way more enjoyable than fighting. I’ve done that for fuckin 20 years."