“My brain’s still healthy” - Demetrious Johnson enjoys breaking down fights after retiring from MMA

Apart from possessing incredible fight IQ, Demetrious Johnson has always been an articulate and eloquent individual.

So much so, that it's not surprising to see the American MMA legend thriving when it comes to breaking down fights as an analyst and every now and then, a color commentator.

'DJ's charisma, great deal of knowledge, and attention to detail are just one of the few reasons why his Mighty Cast podcast on YouTube has become a huge hit in recent years.

After officially ending his professional fighting career last September, Demetrious Johnson has had more time to focus on his burgeoning channel. His followers were quick to praise his incredible ability to analyze not just MMA bouts, but also pure-striking and grappling matches.

Plus, he's arguably one of the best to ever do it, making him one of the most credible sources of fight breakdowns.

In a recent conversation with ONE VP Rich Franklin on The Mighty Cast, 'Mighty Mouse' says his mind remains sharp since he didn't accumulate much damage throughout his legendary career.

"For me, I’m done, I’m happy. I still can move, I still can fight if I wanted to, but I’d like to be on this side of the fence where I’m still involved in the sport by breaking down fights, getting excited as a fan of the next up and comer and just enjoy these guys. I’m 38 years old. My brain’s still healthy."

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Demetrious Johnson says knees to a grounded opponent add more dimensions to MMA

The only time Demetrious Johnson got knocked out in 30 career fights was when Adriano Moraes kneed him to oblivion on the ground in their first match back in 2022.

That move, of course, is legal under ONE's Global Martial Arts Ruleset. Despite being on the short end of the stick from that knee to the head, Johnson admitted he actually prefers this ruleset since it prevents stalling, given the added element of danger. 'DJ' explained:

"I like knees to a grounded opponent because it keeps the fight going. Nobody can really stall in that position and it’s also another easy way to get away from it. If I shoot a bad shot, you sprawl, you knee me to the head, I can put my hands out and block my head or I can sit back to my butt and pull guard, now you’re back in my guard. It’s keeping the fight going."

"I’ve always loved that about ONE Championship," Demetrious Johnson added.

Watch the full Mighty Cast episode in its entirety: