5 Enticing Opponents For Demetrious Johnson In ONE Championship

Demetrious Johnson (27-3-1), the most dominant world champion in mixed martial arts history, is ready to bring his elite skills to the ONE Championship cage.

The American megastar officially signed with the promotion on Saturday, 27 October, and he will continue to build on his spectacular legacy in The Home Of Martial Arts.

After launching his career in April 2007, Johnson quickly made his way into North America’s major leagues. In September 2012, he made history by claiming the inaugural UFC Flyweight Championship.

He successfully defended the belt 11 consecutive times over the next six years, finishing seven of his challengers during that timespan.

Now, having cleaned out the division in the West, the 32-year-old has his eye on the world-class competition in the East. Here are five thrilling potential match-ups for the American flyweight sensation in ONE.

Adriano Moraes

For much of the time Johnson was dominant in North America with his well-rounded skill set, Brazil’s Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes (17-3) was leading the way in Asia.

The two-time ONE Flyweight World Champion is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who possesses excellent Muay Thai striking, a hefty gas tank, and the patience to masterfully execute his game plan.

Moraes brilliantly flows between the martial arts and possesses the grappling expertise to submit his opponents with his specialty – a variety of chokes.

Also, his only defeats have come via razor-thin split decision.

The Brazilian warrior, who trains at American Top Team, has shown he is capable of finishing contests early, but he also has the stamina to go the distance and push the pace on his opponents for 25 minutes.

Karait Akhmetov

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov (25-2) is another versatile competitor who may hold an advantage over “Mighty Mouse” in a few areas.

“The Kazakh” is an outstanding wrestler. In fact, there may be no better in the flyweight division.

In September, Akhmetov, who is a three-time Kazakh Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, showed his exceptional grappling ability as he launched Chinese National Wrestling Champion Ma Hao Bin around the cage in a one-sided contest.

He has trained extensively under Greg Jackson at Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is currently improving his stand-up with the experts at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand.

Like his old rival Moraes, “The Kazakh” rarely loses. In fact, his only defeats have come in 25-minute World Title bouts, so he is also another strong martial artist with the gas tank to push Johnson to the limit.

Reece McLaren

Reece “Lightning” McLaren (12-5) has often been considered the underdog, but he has consistently succeeded expectations with his black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu mastery and his underrated striking.

The Australian stormed to the top of the bantamweight division by defeating the likes of Mark Striegl and Muin Gafurov, and almost took the ONE Bantamweight World Title away from Johnson’s training partner Bibiano Fernandes in December 2016.

Ever since dropping to the flyweight division in November 2017, McLaren has looked phenomenal – winning three straight matches, including a hard-earned split decision victory over DEEP Flyweight Champion Tatsumitsu Wada in July.

“Lightning,” who has a 75 percent finishing rate, is a cardio machine with world-class grappling and strong boxing, which could be a perfect foil for “Mighty Mouse.”

Danny Kingad

Johnson does not expect to get a World Title shot right away. If that is the case, a top contender would be in the firing line, and there is no man in the division in better form than the current flyweight king’s Team Lakay stablemate Danny “The King” Kingad (11-1).

The 22-year-old Filipino is arguably the most energetic combatant on this list, and he is developing his martial arts skills at a rapid pace.

He came into ONE with a formidable striking arsenal thanks to the wushu instruction he receives from Mark Sangiao, but he has complemented those skills with his ever-expanding grappling repertoire.

Kingad has heavily utilized his revamped wrestling and “Baguio jiu-jitsu” to great effect so far this year, and he finds himself on a three-bout win streak, capped by his defeat of Japanese knockout artist Yuya Wakamatsu in September.

Geje Eustaquio

There is perhaps not a more enticing opponent for Johnson than Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio.

Everything has finally clicked for the Filipino, and he is enjoying the best run of his career.

In the past 18 months, he has avenged three losses to rise up the ranks and claim the ONE Flyweight World Championship.

“Gravity” defeated Akhmetov and Moraes back-to-back to become the undisputed king of his division. In those matches, he proved he could contend with their elite grappling, and use his wushu striking to outpoint them.

Eustaquio has a never-say-die attitude and is hungrier than ever to prove himself and defend his crown, which makes him a dangerous proposition for anyone.