'The end of an era': Fighters react to Demetrious Johnson's MMA retirement
One of the all-time great careers in MMA history came to a close Friday when [autotag]Demetrious Johnson[/autotag] announced his retirement from the sport.
The former longtime UFC flyweight champion and ONE Championship titleholder Johnson (25-4-1) made a special entrance to the cage at ONE Championship 168 at Ball Arena in Denver and told the crowd he was done fighting in MMA.
It was an emotional speech from "Mighty Mouse," who moments later became the first fighter to be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame. Johnson didn't rule out a future return in grappling competitions, but he said there is no longer a future in the combat sport where he made all his fame.
Reactions to Johnson's announcement poured in over social media, and you can check out the overwhelming praise for his legendary run below.
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MMA Junkie
MMA Junkie
Demetrious Johnson says farewell to MMA in an emotional retirement speech and becomes ONE Championship's first Hall of Fame inductee ๐
Read more โก๏ธ https://t.co/HszCgzNlgs pic.twitter.com/KmL2ZGhWAvโ MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 7, 2024
Mike Bohn
Demetrious Johnson just announced his retirement from MMA on tonight's ONE Championship broadcast.
โ Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 7, 2024
Terrance McKinney
What a legend Mighty Mouse ๐ซก
โ Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 7, 2024
Ben Fowlkes
Truly one of the greatest but also most under appreciated talents in the history of this sport. https://t.co/oyQjAT7qhI
โ Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) September 7, 2024
Yves Edwards
That officially is the end of an era in MMA! #MightMouseRetires Big Respect @MightyMouse You are the modern equivalent of Bruce Lee to a generation!
โ The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) September 7, 2024
Takeya Mizugaki
ใ็ฒใๆงใงใใใผ๏ผ๏ผ
ๅใๆไปฃใฎใใฃใณใใใพใไธไบบๅฏใใใชใใญใ๐ญ pic.twitter.com/41RdNV0y43โ Takeya Mizugaki (@takeya_miz) September 7, 2024
Ariel Helwani
Demetrious Johnson, one of the absolute greatest MMA fighters to ever compete, just announced his retirement at the ONE Championship event in Denver.
DJ, 38, walks away with a pro record of 25-4-1. Heโs one of the most decorated champions in UFC history and the greatestโฆ pic.twitter.com/7hVA39A1Zoโ Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 7, 2024
Alan Jouban
Congrats on an incredible career @MightyMouse. Not only one of the GOATS of MMA. But also one of the best fight IQโs weโve been fortunate enough to see. Enjoy this new chapter.
โ Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 7, 2024
Jed I Goodman
They wanted me to the leave belt in here, I ain't doing that shit...๐pic.twitter.com/cW6cWkCK87
โ Jed I. Goodman ยฉ (@jedigoodman) September 7, 2024
Jeremy Kennedy
๐ ๐ https://t.co/w9geMpKxav
โ Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) September 7, 2024
Rich Chou
๐ซก ๐ญ
โ Rich Chou (@rich_chou) September 7, 2024
MMA Junkie
The legendary Demetrious Johnson has announced his retirement from MMA competition. ๐๐ญ pic.twitter.com/DlT795LBtV
โ MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 7, 2024
Michael Bisping
Legend! @MightyMouse incredible career. Enjoy retirement brother. https://t.co/tdH5ula1yZ
โ michael (@bisping) September 7, 2024
Ben Davis
The GOAT has retired. ๐ pic.twitter.com/FgTEDgLiki
โ Ben Davis (@BenTheBaneDavis) September 7, 2024
ONE Championship
Hear what Demetrious Johnson had to say at ONE 168: Denver ๐ฃ๏ธ
Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE 168: Denver!#ONE168 | ๐ด LIVE NOW
๐บ How to watch ๐ https://t.co/NOuJb13LII
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ฆ Watch Live on Prime ๐ https://t.co/0ZILlG5o3R
๐ฌ๐ง๐ฎ๐ช Watch Live onโฆ pic.twitter.com/5HOxf6aH4Aโ ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 7, 2024
ONE Championship
Who but the GOAT? ๐ Demetrious Johnson is your first inductee to the ONE Championship Hall of Fame!
Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE 168: Denver!#ONE168 | ๐ด LIVE NOW
๐บ How to watch ๐ https://t.co/NOuJb13LII
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ฆ Watch Live on Prime ๐โฆ pic.twitter.com/foCzN4Ol38โ ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 7, 2024
Derek Brunson
Demetrius โMighty Mouseโ Johnson has retired from mma. Will we ever see another dominate flyweight !
โ Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 7, 2024
ONE Championship
Thank you, โMighty Mouseโ ๐ Congrats to Demetrious Johnson on a legendary MMA career!
Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE 168: Denver!#ONE168 | ๐ด LIVE NOW
๐บ How to watch ๐ https://t.co/NOuJb13LII
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ฆ Watch Live on Prime ๐โฆ pic.twitter.com/GSR0zPokFtโ ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 7, 2024
Demetrious Johnson
Well that was emotional โค๏ธ thank you everyone!!!
โ Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) September 7, 2024
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 'The end of an era': Fighters react to Demetrious Johnson's MMA retirement
