Number 1: Demetrious Johnson
There are many who will be surprised to see that Jon Jones has not been given the number 1 slot. He has been spectacular in his UFC career, but in terms of technical ability in all aspects of MMA, Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson is our number 1 choice. The current UFC flyweight champion is 21-2-1 in his MMA career, his last loss was to former bantamweight champion Dominic Cruz before dropping to his natural weight of 125 pounds. The 28 year old American has dismantled the flyweight division in the UFC and looks better every time we see him inside the octagon.
Growing up in Washington State, Johnson was a stand out athlete in high school, competing in both wrestling and cross country at state level. Back when he was training to fight Dominic Cruz he was still working full time as a forklift operator to support his family. His long time coach Matt Hume finally managed to convince him to quit his job, telling him he would one day be a UFC champion.
His crisp stand-up technique is aided by his knockout power, a rare ability at flyweight. His wrestling and control are top notch and his submission skills are a thing of beauty. However the most impressive aspect of his game lies in his transitions between disciplines. Mighty Mouse will hit a perfect 3 punch combo, finish with a leg kick and dive for a double leg takedown before his opponents can react. On the ground he uses leverage and control to submit opponents with varied techniques including armbars, kimuras and chokes. He is known as the fastest fighter in the UFC, his cardio is endless, his pressure is constant and his discipline unwavering.
No one knows what would really happen in an imaginary world where all competitors could meet on equal footing. However they say that styles make fights, Demetrious Johnson’s style is precision pressure and perfect technique across all disciplines. Next up for DJ is Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC 186.
