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Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson has a simple – and humble – message for fans in Asia and for those who will have a face to face in the world of pound-for-pound fighter in the world .
"I'm coming out there as a new athlete and I'm going to have a job doing it every day," Johnson said on Monday. "I'm not looking for any kind of drama. That's not the way of a martial artist.
"It's a huge move. I know those guys [in One’s flyweight division] are animals and I'm looking for those guys. "
It's an attitude that stands in stark contrast to those often linked to the sport, and to recent controversies such as the following mayor conor McGregor-Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC lightweight title fight.
Johnson – the UFC flyweight field trainer – said part of the lure of signing on.
"I was never the biggest fan of the way people went about promoting their fights in North America," Johnson said. "I saw it as a way of bullying. I am very excited that I do not have to go through that with One. People would say: 'Dude, if you want to sell or get your name on it Frosted Flakes you gotta talk more trash' But that's not who I am. Martial artists do not attack people or cause a big scene. "
It should be a wild ride for Johnson, whose career has been one of a kind. One management has been penciled in for a start with the organization early in the new year.
"I've always wanted to travel to the world," Johnson said. "I want to win the one flyweight title and defend it as many times as I can. But first. I leave the UFC with no regrets, and on good terms. But I'd done everything I could over there. "
Johnson's move from the Las Vegas-based UFC to the Singapore-based One promotion was confirmed on Sunday.
Early doors on Monday and the 32-year-old was working with the new boss – One chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong – as they started to spread as wide as possible.
Please join me in welcoming the # 1 pound-for-pound king, @MightyMouse, to ONE Championship! His extraordinary achievements speak for themselves, but I am most impressed by his character, his values, and his life story. #GOAT
– Chatri Sityodtong (@YODCHATRI) October 27, 2018
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"He's not only pound-for-pound king he embodies everything that is beautiful about martial arts," Sityodtong said.
In terms of the sport as a whole, the move is a groundbreaker, with the UFC train flyweight field and his record of 27-3-1 heading out to face Asia's best, while One's sleeping welterweight field Ben "Funky" Askren (18 -0, one no contest) moves the other way.
In terms of what fans can expect, it seems to be at least win – win for both camps. One Championship gets one of MMA's all-time best, still active, still hungry and with a little sense that he's leaving a market where his considerable talents have never been fully appreciated. The UFC gets a fighter who has achieved success with one sport.
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"This move feels good," Johnson said. "If people want to be traded we should have that."
Johnson's connections already has in Asia run deep. He's trained by One's vice president of operations Matt Hume and works out alongside One's current bantamweight champ Bibiano's "The Flash" Fernandes (22-3) at Humes' AMC Pankration, in Kirkland, Washington.
The Brazilian has already made it clear Johnson will be part of his entourage in Singapore next week for his title defense against Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon (19-5) which is the co-main event at One's Heart of the Lion card.
It should be some night, what with One's golden girl Angela "Unstoppable" Lee (9-0) taking on Chinese strawberry field Xiong "The Panda" Jingnan (16-1) and another of one's recent high-profile UFC lightweight Field Eddie "The Underground King" Alvarez (29-6, one no contest) sitting cageside a fighter for the first time.
Demetrious Johnson says he leaves the UFC on good terms, no bad blood but he's done everything he could do there. In ONE Championship, there's new goals, new championships.
– Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) October 29, 2018
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One's flyweight division is currently ruled by Philippines' Geje "Gravity" Eustaquio (11-6), while lined up behind him are the likes of ex-fields Adriano "Mikinho" Moraes (17-3) of Brazil and Kairat "The Kazakh" Akhmetov (22-2) – who was first to win a challenge to Johnson.
While the American started his career as a bantamweight, he revealed that he was leaving the position of coach. the other martial arts the one team has this year added to their cards.
"I think I have the skill set to do it," Johnson said. "But first things first, and I'm focusing on MMA."
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