'I leave as a champ' - UFC legend Johnson retires

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has retired from mixed martial arts astatine nan property of 38.

Johnson is considered 1 of nan top MMA fighters of each clip and nan champion flyweight to grace nan sport.

Nicknamed 'Mighty Mouse', nan American held nan flyweight title successful nan ONE Championship for 2 years until announcing his determination during ONE 168 successful Denver connected Friday.

"They wanted maine to time off nan loop successful here, but I ain't doing that," Johnson said.

"I came into this athletics a champ and I'm leaving arsenic a champ too."

He has a grounds of 25 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.

Johnson was nan inaugural UFC flyweight champion and successfully defended nan title 11 times betwixt 2012 and 2017 earlier losing it successful 2018.

His past bout was a points triumph complete Adriano Moraes successful May 2023, his first conflict connected location ungraded since 2018.

Johnson near nan UFC 5 years ago, but remains nan holder of respective flyweight records, including astir wins (13), astir finishes (seven) and longest winning streak (13).

At his peak, Johnson was known for his unthinkable speed, and his invention was admired crossed each weight classes.

Johnson exited nan UFC successful a daze switch woody pinch ONE successful 2018 successful which welterweight Ben Askren moved successful nan different direction.

Johnson became ONE flyweight champion, losing his first title effort to Moraes earlier instantly avenging nan conclusion pinch a flying knee knockout that went viral successful nan combat sports community.

Johnson competed successful 14 world title fights successful nan UFC, losing only 2 - to Dominick Cruz astatine bantamweight successful 2011 and Henry Cejudo astatine flyweight successful 2017.

After his retirement, Johnson was named arsenic nan first inductee into nan caller ONE Championship Hall of Fame.

He intends to proceed competing successful grappling tournaments.

Many fighters and fans honoured Johnson by posting a goat emoji, signalling his position arsenic a contender for top of each time.

Former UFC champion Michael Bisping: "Legend! Mighty Mouse unthinkable career. Enjoy status brother."

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov: "One of nan champion who ever did this."

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhmmad: "Congrats Mighty Mouse."

Retired UFC combatant Alan Jouban: "Congrats connected an unthinkable profession Mighty Mouse. Not only 1 of nan GOATS of MMA but besides 1 of nan champion conflict IQs we’ve been fortunate capable to see. Enjoy this caller chapter."

PFL combatant Derek Brunson: "Johnson has retired from MMA. Will we ever spot different predominate flyweight?"

UFC welterweight Stephen Thompson: "One of nan top to ever do it! I person learned and still study truthful overmuch from Mighty Mouse! Congrats connected a phenomenal profession my friend!"

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani: "He’s 1 of nan astir dressed up champions successful UFC history and nan top flyweight ever. No question. Most importantly? He was 1 of nan kindest, classiest and astir master group successful MMA history."