Demetrious Johnson received’t be preventing in MMA anymore and he didn’t struggle the tears after asserting his retirement.
“Mighty Mouse” officially called it a wrap on his illustrious career this previous Friday at ONE 168 in Denver, hanging up the gloves after 15 years as a professional, 11 UFC flyweight title defenses, and one other title reign for ONE Championship.
The 38-year-old may hardly preserve it collectively whereas delivering his retirement speech and the waterworks have been flowing backstage, too. On Monday, Johnson launched an all-access, behind-the-scenes take a look at his emotional farewell.
Watch the video under.
Following his in-cage second, Johnson recorded an unique testimonial for his YouTube channel, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he was crying another time.
“I didn’t assume it was going to be that emotional, to be sincere with you,” Johnson mentioned. “I believe it’s at all times good not making ready a speech as a result of I really feel if you put together a speech, you concentrate on studying the phrases and getting your ideas out. However I believe if you communicate from the guts and you are feeling the vitality of the group, you see your spouse, you see your children, you see f*cking [coach Matt Hume], it’s simply f*cking arduous, you recognize?
“It’s not arduous, it’s only a large chapter of my life that for thus lengthy I’ve devoted to martial arts. I’m going to proceed to do martial arts… a few guys that I talked to, Urijah Faber, he mentioned, ‘There’s solely a brief period of time you get to be an expert athlete and have the ability to compete on the highest stage.’ It’s not that I can’t practice anymore and I can’t struggle and I can’t do it, however I really feel there has to come back a time limit when an athlete is like, when is sufficient sufficient? For me, I felt prefer it was that second.”
Johnson composed himself and elaborated extra on his causes for retirement, however was quickly in tears once more after assembly up along with his coach and longtime good friend Matt Hume.
“He’s like a father to me,” Johnson mentioned of Hume. “You’ve at all times been superb. … You’ve simply at all times been there, not as a coach, however as a father and mentor.”
“I really feel like I’m to you,” Hume mentioned earlier than embracing Johnson.
The retirement festivities began earlier within the night time for Johnson as his household put collectively a tribute video, which included UFC stars Israel Adesanya, Sean O’Malley, and Aljamain Sterling, BKFC star Mike Perry, Bibiano Fernandes, Tyron Woodley, in addition to Johnson’s family members and coaching companions.
