“My mindset” - Demetrious Johnson on why he’s still so good at his age

‘Mighty Mouse’ Demetrious Johnson explained why he’s still at the top of his game at 36-years-old.

Sitting with Joe Rogan on his podcast, Johnson talked about a whole slew of topics in their 3-hour long interview, one of which was "mindset.” Cementing his legacy as the most dominant flyweight world champion during his UFC tenure, Demetrious Johnson continues to compete at the highest level in ONE Championship despite his age.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, ‘Mighty Mouse’ explained the secret to his successful run in MMA.

He said:

“Honestly, I think it’s just the training. My mindset, the team around me, and just honestly trying to get better every time I step inside the cage.”

The shift in his mindset stems from the culmination of both tragedy and success in his life. After powering through the loss of a close family member, Johnson found a way to win the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix. However, he was once again brought to a low point in his life as he experienced the first knockout loss of his career against ‘Mikinho’ Adriano Moraes in April 2021.

With the roller-coaster of experiences he had to go through, Demetrious Johnson admitted seeing life in a different light. His whole perspective on what it means to be a perfect martial artist didn’t seem as important as enjoying whatever time he has left with his family and teammates at AMC Pankration.

At the end of the day, it’s not always about winning or losing, as Johnson said in the interview. It’s about leaving your ego checked at the door and being open to learning in all aspects of life. Whether it’s to become a better fighter, teacher, or a father - that’s the key to his success.

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Demetrious Johnson doesn’t expect to be matched up with John Lineker for his first title defense

It’s been three months since Demetrious Johnson avenged his first loss at ONE Championship. Having stripped the ONE flyweight world title away from Adriano Moraes at ONE on Prime Video 1, fans are curious to see who’s next in line for the flyweight belt.

Potential opponents for ‘Mighty Mouse’s’ next world title defense include a trilogy match with Adriano Moraes, No. 2-ranked contender Kairat Akhmetov, and even former bantamweight world champion John Lineker. The last of the three comes as a surprise to many fans, and Johnson himself.

When asked about a potential matchup with Lineker, who held the ONE bantamweight world title during the time of the interview, Demetrious Johnson said he wasn’t particularly interested in making that fight happen.

He told ONE:

“I fight to make my living, so if it was to happen, it [will] happen. If it doesnt, I can go my whole entire career without fighting John Lineker, and I think I will be totally fine.”