Navigate Select ESC Close

Demetrious Johnson, one of UFC's best flyweights opens up on UFC drama and walking away | The Pivot

2026-03-10 Sports
36.1k
1.5k
113
The Pivot Podcast
The Pivot Podcast
1.4m subscribers

Unlock all features

FREE: Get instant access to 10 AI summaries, chats, or transcripts per day.

Description

Pivot Family! hit the button to SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnxiP7q4RDDyeioZFZLnXA?sub_confirmation=1 "I produced some badass fights for UFC...and they were waiting for me to lose."- Demetrious Johnson On this episode of The Pivot Podcast, the guys sit down with one of the most technically brilliant fighters in combat sports history, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Widely considered one of the greatest flyweights of all time, Johnson opens up about the journey that shaped him — from a difficult childhood to becoming a global MMA icon to the disappointment of never having the fight platform he earned.Johnson reflects on growing up with a deaf mother and the responsibility and resilience that came with it. Not meeting his biological father until later in life, Demetrious' mom and sister were always at forefront of his choices, as he worked to turn his aggression and frustration into championship wrestling and competition skills. He shares how those early experiences forged the discipline and mindset that would later define his career. The conversation dives into the highs and lows of his time in the UFC, the challenges he faced during turbulent moments in the promotion, and the pivotal decision that led him to continue his legacy on the global stage of MMA. Beyond championships and highlight-reel finishes, Johnson talks about what the sport has meant to him and the mark he hopes to leave behind. He discusses the evolution of mixed martial arts, his role in elevating the flyweight division, and how he wants to be remembered by the next generation of fighters. A complicated and often misunderstood relationship with Dana White led to Demetrious being a part of history, as the first trade in MMA with Ben Askren going to the UFC while DJ landed in a different MMA platform. Ryan goes in-depth about the elite skill set that defined DJ's career, how he ranks amongst the top MMA fighters and how his legacy is remembered. Outside the cage, the conversation turns personal. Johnson opens up about fatherhood, marriage, and the balance between being a world-class athlete and a present husband and dad. It’s a candid and thoughtful look at the man behind “Mighty Mouse,” his values, and the legacy he’s building both inside and outside the cage as well as raising children with transparency and exposing them to the harsh realties of culture, race and social issues facing the world now. A powerful conversation about perseverance, humility, and greatness you don't want to miss...Pivot Family, comment, like, hit the subscribe button, we enjoy hearing and learning from you- the good and the bad, we want to know! GET MERCH HERE: https://www.pivotpodcast.com FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://facebook.com/thepivotpodcast SPOTIFY | https://open.spotify.com/show/5KtXTWiC3J5WW1CVTpYG5V APPLE PODCASTS | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pivot-podcast/id1603292451 #ThePivot #Podcast #RyanClark #ChanningCrowder #FredTaylor #NFL

Top Comments (10)

@WeMe83 2026-03-10

He is not “one of” he is “The” best flyweight ever in combat sports.

377 37 replies
@keitwhitt 2026-03-10

Mighty Mouse MMA GOAT (clean)

182 4 replies
@user-yz1zt1nq1p 2026-03-10

He is consensus the best flyweight in ufc history. Give the man some respect.

100
@gerardschaefer6495 2026-03-10

Thanks for having him on. Doesn't get nearly enough love.

95 1 replies
@zackcalkins6244 2026-03-10

“One of the best flyweights” is so disrespectful. The best flyweight EVER by far, one of the greatest fighters in history period! Mount Rushmore 🐐

87 2 replies
@bigman1194 2026-03-10

The caption is kinda weak. You could’ve done way better he’s THE GOAT. He’s on the Mount Rushmore

86 3 replies
@masixolechuma713 2026-03-10

The G.O.A.T in the building!!!

43 9 replies
@gabereyes2602 2026-03-10

Meeting this man in real life for the last 7 years has been like normal. Him and his family are so down to earth. We used to do Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the PNW at The Revolution competitions.

20
@17LukeT17 2026-03-10

Great interview, DJ the Goat. "Just google me" is still one of the hardest quotes ever😂

13
@DefinitelyNotKumiv 2026-03-11

Literally the best fighter and the best brain for combat sports of all time.

7

Unlock the Data Inside
Turn Videos into Knowledge

  • Get FREE 10/day: transcripts, summaries, chats
  • Chat with videos, export text & PDF
  • $1 free API credit for RAG, chatbots & research

Free forever plan • All features unlocked

App screenshot