5 ONE Championship stars who could pass as variants in the MCU multiverse

#2. ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious Johnson as Black Panther in the MCU

The tech-savvy Demetrious Johnson can handle all the gadgets of Black Panther. | [Photos: ONE Championship]

We all know Black Panther in the MCU for his cat-like reflexes, quickness and having one of the most technologically-advanced arsenals among all superheroes. ONE Championship’s Demetrious Johnson could be an ideal variant for The King of Wakanda.

He obviously doesn’t bring gadgets into the cage with him when he fights, but ‘Mighty Mouse’ certainly knows his tech as an avid gamer and tech enthusiast. Johnson regularly streams on Twitch and can probably beat people in video games the same way he beats people in the Circle.

What he does have in common with Black Panther in terms of technology are his tools in the Circle. Johnson is widely considered as one of the greatest of all-time in MMA because of his otherworldly skills and his body of work in the cage.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s speed is also formidable. He may be the closest as humanly possible to Black Panther in terms of quickness, as evidenced by the lightning quick moves he pulls off in his fights.

Johnson may never rule his own country, but he did reign over the UFC’s flyweight division for years before taking his talents to ONE Championship.

T’Challa remains as one of the key figures in the MCU right now. Despite actor Chadwick Boseman’s death, showrunners are looking to recast the role. Finding variants to play his character will be essential in the continuation of his storyline.

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#1. ONE Championship's Gordon Ryan as Captain America in the MCU

Gordon Ryan is already a hero in his own right, fighting for what he believes in. | [Photos: ONE Championship]

If the MCU’s multiverse was indeed real, Gordon Ryan could easily be a variant of Captain America, not only physically, but also because of what he stands for. Captain America is a hero who fights for freedom and American ideals, something that Ryan embodies in real life.

Although he doesn’t have the platform that Captain America has in terms of his relationship with the government, Ryan uses his social feeds to share his pride as an American and even takes a stand on some controversial topics. Like Captain America, he wants to be a voice that represents the people he protects.

‘The King’ may never carry an indestructible shield made of alien metal, but he does his job of protecting people by supporting charitable efforts whenever he can. He’s even giving out free grappling lessons regularly on his Instagram page.

Captain America was considered the leader of superhero group The Avengers. Meanwhile, Ryan is also a notable member of the famed Danaher Death Squad, arguably The Avengers of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to hit theaters in a few months and fans could see a variant of Steve Rogers in a universe or two. Who knows, we could see Gordon Ryan don the red, white, and blue.