Demetrious Johnson is riding off into the sunset. The all-time great appeared at ONE 168: Denver on Friday, September 6, to bid farewell to the fans as he retired from mixed martial arts.
Johnson gave an emotional speech inside the ONE Championship Circle to deliver the news. However, the decision to call it a career had long been in the plans.
"I knew I was going to retire after I fought Adriano the third time after I did the press conference. I had my kids. I was walking, and I was like, 'Damn, is this what my life is right here? Is this it,'" Johnson remarked to ONE.
"And I was like, 'I'm gonna take a year off, keep on training, and see if I miss it.' Because I didn't want to be the athlete who just retires and I'm back home and I'm training, and I'm like 'Oh man, I wish I could unretire. I wanna come back and fight.' And then come back out of retirement and fight again."
"So, my New Year's resolution this year was that I was gonna force myself not to fight. I need to start using my brain, my intellect, my charisma, my creativity to start making money and building my brand."
"I was sitting at home, and I was like, 'I don't miss it.' It's a young man's game. I'm 38 years old. I'm spending time with my kids and my wife, and I just knew that this was the right time to do it."
Johnson's highly decorated career puts him in a class of his own. He accomplished the sport's greatest heights with championship victories wherever he went.
"Mighty Mouse" talked with other athletes who walked away to ensure he was making the right decision.
"It was a little bit [of a sigh of relief]. I knew already that I was in that chapter in my life. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm gonna miss it because I know I can still fight, but there comes a point in time where the athlete just goes, 'I'm done. I don't wanna stay too long at the party,'" the pound-for-pound great said.
"I just wanna enjoy what I've done and walk away. And I talked to a lot of guys – GSP was one. He was like, 'There's always gonna be another guy.' That's why he retired. Urijah Faber, he was like, 'We only get a short amount of time in our life where we could be a professional athlete and fight at the highest level.'"
"So it is pretty hard, but I am relieved to be able to say I'm finally done."
Johnson was content with just retiring without a send-off. However, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong played a role in having Johnson relay the news to the fans himself.
ONE has given the platform for other athletes to retire. Last October, Angela Lee gave her emotional speech, inside the Circle, as she turned her page to the next chapter.
Johnson was grateful that he was talked into making a public appearance and having the appropriate platform for delivering the news.
"For me, I was gonna do it kinda silently, but after talking to Chatri, talking to my wife, they were like, 'Well, it's not always about you. It's about your fans,'" Johnson said.
"And I'm grateful I did it the way I did. I think the package that ONE Championship and Chatri put together was absolutely amazing."
When it comes to a legacy, many may point to the championships that "Mighty Mouse" won. They may look at the highlight reel of finishes and creative moves he displayed throughout his career.
But Johnson wants to be known for his work ethic and being one of the sport's true role models.
"I've never thought about my legacy. [I'm a] hard worker. I'd probably say from what I've achieved in mixed martial arts, I'd say I'm the easiest athlete to work with. Never failed a drug test. Every single time USADA came to me, I made it happen," Johnson stated.
"I always showed up when I fought. So, I would say a hard worker, a great athlete, and a good student."