Demetrious Johnson unperturbed heading to Moraes rematch

For Demetrious Johnson, taking a rematch with Adriano Moraes was a no-brainer.

The two will reunite at ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II on 27 August at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“Mighty Mouse” will make his second attempt at Moraes’s ONE Flyweight World Championship, but he’s certain this time he’ll find success.

“It’s another tough [fight]. He’s a great athlete. He always comes prepared. He’s always in great condition. And then on that day, I’m just going to go out there and fight and see [what happens],” the MMA GOAT said.

“I mean, at the end of the day, I have nothing to lose. I’ve just lost, damn it. We’ve both proven so much in the sport of mixed martial arts. For me, my challenge is I haven’t beat him yet, so I have a challenge in front of me. I have to go prove I can beat this man.”

Despite the many accolades Johnson has received throughout his career, he is entering this rematch not solely for the belt, but for the sheer enjoyment of the experience.

“I still enjoy fighting. It’s just another fight. Every fight that I fight from here on out is always going to be my biggest fight whether it’s for a world title or not,” he said.

The first battle with “Mikinho” took place at “ONE on TNT I” in April 2021, but the ending didn’t bode well for “Mighty Mouse.” He was caught by a knee from the multiple-time World Champion Moraes in the second round and experienced his first knockout loss.

Rather than being discouraged by the incident, Johnson reflected and sought out the positives. He’s taking what he learned from the last fight to give an even better performance in his upcoming bout.

“There’s no reason to ruin your mental state, your mental capacity. I know I trained hard. I know I’m one of the best fighters in the world. I know that, and it’s never going to change because I put in the work and I’m always willing to learn,” he added.

“I’m making sure when I step into the Circle on [27] August in Singapore, I’m the best version of myself. That’s what I’m always striving for. I’m always striving for perfection, and I just hope that I go out there and execute and not make any mistakes.”