"That's what we love to chase" - Demetrious Johnson says competing in BJJ tournaments gives him the thrill of a lifetime

Mixed martial arts GOAT candidate and reigning ONE flyweight MMA world champion 'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson has achieved unprecedented levels of success in MMA. Many consider him to be the best to ever do it.

But at the age of 38, and with multiple accolades under his belt, Johnson admits the thrill and excitement of victory in MMA doesn't particularly get his juices flowing anymore.

That being said, 'Mighty Mouse' points to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, in which he has recently started to compete in over the past year or so, that has gotten his competitive spirit going again.

Speaking in a recent guest appearance on the Believe YOU ME Podcast with Michael Bisping, Johnson professed his current infatuation with submission grappling.

'Mighty Mouse' said:

"I've done [MMA] for so long at the highest of the highest level. I headlined UFC cards. I headlined ONE Championship cards."

He added:

"I'm doing jiu-jitsu tournaments now. It's the only thing that gets me excited, that gets my heart pumping. Before I did this tournament, my heart was racing like a jackrabbit. I told my wife, 'I don't know why I do this shit. I'm so nervous right now'. And she's like, 'Why?' I'm about to go compete. She said, 'What you're feeling right now, you're alive, babe'. That's what we love to chase."

Demetrious Johnson on the thrill of competing in BJJ at this stage in his career: "That's what we love to chase"

Demetrious Johnson admits that after two decades at the top of the MMA stratosphere, he has gone into autopilot. At the same time, that's how good 'Mighty Mouse' is at fighting. He has his system down to a tee and needs only to prepare himself physically before fights.

'Mighty Mouse' said:

"When I do mixed martial arts, I don't feel that [excitement] anymore. It's like, I'm fighting this guy, I have eight weeks to prepare for him, it is what it is."