Teammate: Johnson is ‘still the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world’

“The best mixed martial artist on the planet is Demetrious Johnson.”

Demetrious Johnson might no longer be featured in the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings, but that doesn’t mean the former flyweight champion isn’t still one of the best fighters in the world.

Prior to his upset loss against Henry Cejudo and shock switch to ONE FC, ‘Mighty Mouse’ was ranked as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having defended his flyweight title a record-breaking 11 times and amassing a thirteen-fight win streak in MMA’s premiere promotion.

Johnson will make his ONE Championship debut later this month against Yuya Wakamatsu, and teammate Bibiano Fernandes expects to see a return to form for the former flyweight king.

Speaking to John Hyon Ko of The Body Lock in a recent interview, Fernandes, who will be competing on the same card as Johnson, said his teammate will prove to the world that he is still the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game in his ONE FC debut.

“I think he brings himself. He brings Demetrious Johnson,” Fernandes said. “He is still the best pound-for-pound [fighter in the world]. What he did was break records [most title defenses in UFC history]. No one in history did what he did.”

“He is the best mixed martial artist. That’s another thing I try to explain to people. Mixed martial artist. MMA means mixed… The best mixed martial artist on the planet is Demetrious Johnson.”

ONE Championship: A New Era takes place later this month, March 31 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.