Demetrious Johnson breaks down the main difference between BJJ and MMA takedowns: “People don’t understand”

ONE flyweight MMA world champion Demetrious Johnson has been actively competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu of late and has had his fair share of success. He recently said he is having a grand time doing it and looking forward to improving moving forward.

'Mighty Mouse' shared this in a recent sit-down studio interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. He shared his experience in the 'gentle art' and along the way touched on certain facets that distinguish it from his traditional lane of MMA. Among them was the concept of the takedown, which he highlighted varies in certain ways.

Demetrious Johnson said:

"People don't understand in MMA, 'Oh he got taken down' and he got back up. That's not a takedown. A takedown is when I secure the position for three to five seconds, then that's a takedown, right? So I say I take you down and it ensues to a scramble and you get up and you're moving. That's not a takedown."

Check out what he had to say below, beginning at 34:11:

Demetrious Johnson went on to say that in BJJ, takedowns are not just maneuvers of taking down an opponent to the ground. They should also lead to ground control and securing a favorable position.

The 37-year-old martial arts legend was a recent gold medal winner in the brown belt Master 2 featherweight class at the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championship in Florida.

He is also a silver medal winner in the brown belt Master 2 absolute division in the event, where he submitted 248-pound opponent Mike Medina of the Carlson Gracie Team in impressive fashion.

Last summer, Johnson won a gold medal in the Master 2 featherweight division at the IBJJF Masters Worlds in Las Vegas.

Demetrious Johnson's BJJ success could lead to ONE submission grappling foray

While there is nothing definite yet on Demetrious Johnson competing in submission grappling under the ONE Championship banner, his recent success in Brazilian jiu-jitsu has made this a possibility.

If that is to happen, he should not have a hard time finding an opponent. Reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci has expressed his interest in facing off with 'Mighty Mouse' in a grappling showdown.

Johnson was last in action for ONE in May last year in the promotion's first-ever live on-ground event in the United States. He successfully defended the ONE flyweight MMA world title in a trilogy fight against Brazilian rival and former divisional king Adriano Moraes by way of unanimous decision.