Former UFC flyweight champion and current ONE flyweight world champion Demetrious Johnson recently shared his admiration for ONE bantamweight world champion Fabricio Andrade in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session. Johnson referred to Andrade as the fighter who currently “fascinates” him the most, and his statement implies that he sees potential in the bantamweight champion. This is significant, as Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, and his opinion on potential opponents carries significant weight.
It remains to be seen if Johnson and Andrade will eventually face off in the ONE Championship cage. However, if they do, it would undoubtedly be a high-profile matchup that would excite MMA fans worldwide. Andrade should take Johnson’s praise as a sign of respect and motivation to continue improving and defending his title.
In another instance, Johnson shared his all-time favourite PRIDE fighter in a recent online Q&A session. He revealed that his favourite PRIDE fighter of all time is none other than Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic who is a legendary Croatian kickboxer and former 2006 Pride World Openweight Grand Prix Champion who has left an indelible mark on MMA. He is known for his signature left high kicks, indestructible takedown defence, and knockout power that has put kickboxing on the map.
Despite his retirement in March 2019 due to health reasons, ‘Mirko Cro Cop’ left an impressive legacy of 78 wins, 8 losses, and 31 knockouts. His achievements and fighting style continue to inspire many fighters in the sport, and he is still considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
Mirko Cro Cop is revered for his ferocious striking and devastating knockout power, which he demonstrated throughout his illustrious career. He fought some of the biggest names in the sport, including Wanderlei Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, and Mark Hunt, to name a few. His battles with these top-class fighters will forever be remembered in MMA history.
Cro Cop’s last fight was in February 2019, where he suffered a TKO loss to Roy Nelson. Despite the loss, he left the sport with his head held high, knowing that he had accomplished so much in his career.
His retirement marked the end of an era, but his impact on MMA will always be remembered. His left high kicks, indestructible takedown defence, and knockout power have become a staple of the sport, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of fighters.
Despite taking some time off to connect with fans online, Johnson is taking his trilogy bout against Adriano Moraes very seriously. With their head-to-head record currently at 1-1, Johnson is preparing to face Moraes once again at ONE Fight Night 10. Their last meeting was a thrilling back-and-forth battle that saw Moraes using his reach advantage to land takedowns and control Johnson on the ground. However, Johnson was able to turn the tide with a powerful right hand that stunned Moraes, followed up by a devastating knee to the side of his head to secure a knockout victory.
Johnson’s incredible finish not only avenged his TKO loss to Moraes but also earned him a $50,000 performance bonus and made him the first fighter to ever knock out Moraes. Johnson is looking to continue this momentum and put an end to Moraes’ plans of resurgence with another spectacular finish at the 1st Bank Center in Colorado on May 5.
As the two fierce competitors enter the cage for their highly anticipated third bout, MMA fans around the world will be watching with bated breath to see who emerges victorious in this thrilling matchup. North American fans can watch the fight for free with a Prime Video subscription, making it an event not to be missed. Johnson’s continued success and admiration for fighters like Andrade and Emelianenko make him a fan favourite and one of the most respected fighters in the MMA world today.
