'They got the better athlete'… Demetrious Johnson gives honest verdict on trade deal from UFC to ONE Championship

10/17/2024 05:13 AM

Demetrious Johnson is one of the most decorated MMA fighters of all time, making 11 defenses of his UFC flyweight title before reigning supreme in ONE Championship.

Prior to his retirement, the American's compelling trilogy with Adriano Moraes culminated with him securing a unanimous decision victory over his rival last year.

But the final six bouts of his illustrious career were promoted by ONE Championship, following his departure from the UFC in a swap deal with Ben Askren.

And yet, despite not being able to generate the same amount of money as Askren, 'Mighty Mouse' believes he was nonetheless able to add value to the growing MMA promotion.

Demetrious reveals his thoughts on Ben Askren swap deal

The deal emerged in 2018 following Demetrious Johnson's defeat to MMA legend Henry Cejudo, ending his remarkable near six-year reign as UFC champion.

And so, with Olympic wrestler Askren making a name for himself in ONE Championship, UFC boss Dana White saw an opportunity to bring a potential star under his promotional banner.

But still, while he admits that the UFC ultimately benefited from the deal, Johnson insists that his career only went from strength to strength in ONE Championship.

"Money wise, I think the UFC won because of how much more money they were able to generate… I wasn't making [Dana White and the UFC] any money," Johnson told Ariel Helwani.

"But I think just the sheer of the f***ing horse that ONE Championship got… You look at the fights I was able to produce; the knockouts, the buzz that I was able to produce for ONE Championship.

"If I wanted to, today, I could still fight. I don't think Ben Askren could still fight. I mean, it’s easy clear that [One Championship] got the better athlete, the better fighter."

Ben Askren's UFC career following Demetrious Johnson swap deal

Immediately after joining MMA's flagship promotion, Askren secured an emphatic first-round submission over seasoned veteran Robbie Lawler.

But then, following an intense build-up to his fight with UFC star Jorge Masvidal, 'Funky' was forced to suffer the most humiliating defeat of his career.

It was, in fact, one of the most electric knockouts in combat sports history, with Masvidal landing an explosive flying knee to pulverize his defenseless opponent.

After that, Askren was decisively choked out by Demian Maia, before facing YouTube star Jake Paul in a boxing match where, once again, he found himself one the receiving end of a one-sided beatdown.