#1. Demetrious Johnson
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Demetrious Johnson is the first and current Flyweight Champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and currently holds the longest active championship reign at 8 title defenses. At 5'3", he is also the shortest male fighter in the promotion.
Known for his quick striking and elusive movement, Johnson has also landed the most takedowns in UFC Flyweight history and holds the record for the latest finish in UFC history with a submission win at 4:59 of the fifth round against Kyoji Horiguchi.
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He is also the only UFC fighter to record over 10 takedowns in three different fights. Espn.com, MMA Weekly, and various UFC personnel have called Johnson one of the greatest mixed martial artists the world has ever known. As of May 31, 2016, he is #2 in official UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
Johnson fought Cruz only once for the Bantamweight title on October 1, 2011 and lost in a unanimous decision. Both the fighters have enjoyed tremendous success in their now-different weight categories since. But if Johnson decides to step up his weight a division, then it will be a spectacle.
Known as one of the fastest fighters in MMA, Johnson is recognized for quick striking and elusive movement. He is noted for his ability to land fast punches and kicks to the head or body, then quickly escape an opponent's reach.
He is also known for his ability to counterstrike while standing within the pocket.
In addition to his striking, Johnson is trained in catch wrestling under Matt Hume, as demonstrated by his double wrist-lock submission of Chris Cariaso, and his final-second victory by armbar against Kyoji Horiguchi.
During clinches, Johnson has also utilized the Muay Thai plum while mixing in a series of elbows and knees.
A Johnson vs. Cruz super fight is certainly on the cards if Johnson decides to gain some weight. He has achieved everything in the Flyweight division. But it has its cons, too. Connor McGregor fought in a different weight category and got defeated by a seasoned Nate Diaz.
Both Cruz and Johnson are quick fighters and they both show a tendency to attack from improbable angles. Both fighters have a legitimate claim to be called the pound-for-pound number 1 fighter in the world.
The narrative is already set, but the question is, will the fight happen?
