Dana White Talks About Demetrious Johnson And A Superfight

Dana White says Demetrious Johnson should focus on his legacy at flyweight. 

On Saturday, Demetrious Johnson submitted Wilson Reis to defend his UFC Flyweight Championship for the tenth time, tying the record set by Anderson Silva. The fight took place in front of a record setting crowd for UFC on FOX Kansas City. Johnson received serious praise from UFC President Dana White for the victory in an interview backstage.

“This guy continues to evolve and get better when he’s already the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. He absolutely demolished (Reis) on the feet, the punch stats were ridiculous and what does he do, he jumped down to the ground. How many people do you see really going for armbars these days? It’s a dangerous move these days, it puts you in a bad position, and a lot of people can get out. He armbars him, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion,” said White. 

Over the past few months, Johnson and UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt have been discussing a fight with each other. White says Grabrandt is the one not ready for a superfight and Johnson would be better off cementing his legacy. 

“Cody Garbrandt has no title defenses yet, he’s coming up against a tough guy in T.J. Dillashaw. If I’m Mighty Mouse Johnson, I continue; The next fight breaks the record. I would continue to smash the record so bad it could never be broken. If someone in the next division starts to get some wins under his belt and starts to take out some of the top competition then there’s an opportunity for some kind of superfight,” said White. 

Garbrandt faces T.J. Dillashaw in July at UFC 213. At the post fight press conference Johnson said he was wants to set the record at “like 15” defenses before retiring. 

UFC on Fox posted the interview on their YouTube channel.