One UFC legend has yet to be immortalized.
This summer, we saw several stars get inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame: WMMA ‘GOAT’ Amanda Nunes, Robbie Lawler, Vitor Belfort, and Mark Kerr.
Former foes Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum were also inducted into the Fight Wing for their 2018 ‘fight of the year’ from UFC 236.
Adesanya couldn’t believe he made it in the UFC Hall of Fame by 35. The former two-time champ is also taken aback that an all-time great isn’t in there with him after all he’s done for the sport.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesIsrael Adesanya says the UFC ‘better’ induct Demetrious Johnson to Hall of Fame
Retired UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, the greatest flyweight of all time, has yet to be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame.
‘Mighty Mouse’ holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history (11), a feat that may never be broken. A model champion, Johnson reigned as the UFC’s pound-for-pound king for years.
Johnson left the UFC in 2018 when he was traded to ONE Championship for Ben Askren.
Johnson officially retired last year with a pro record of 25-4-1, walking away from the sport as arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time.
“I found out recently you’re not in the UFC Hall of Fame,” Adesanya told Johnson on Young Man Ramble.
“You better be…
“They better be [inducting you]. The GOAT,” Adesanya said of Johnson.
“Who was I talking to? I was like, wait, DJ’s not in the Hall of Fame? I was like, wait, what?
“Especially cause you’ve been away from the UFC now for how long?” Adesanya said.
Seven years have passed since Johnson’s last UFC fight against Henry Cejudo at UFC 227.
“But even me, I’m like… When I first saw [my induction], I was like, I’m too young to be in the Hall of Fame. But for this fight, I was like, I’ll take it. Because it was me and Kelvin and it was a banger f—— fight,” Adesanya said.
“I think you of all people should be in the Hall of Fame, bar none,” Adesanya told Johnson.
Demetrious Johnson on if UFC invites him to Hall of Fame
How would Demetrious Johnson feel about entering the UFC Hall of Fame?
It’s been years since Johnson has attended a UFC event and the former champion hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with UFC boss Dana White, who once told him he wasn’t the UFC’s best fighter.
Still, there’s no denying what Johnson did for the UFC and the sport as a whole, especially the lighter weight classes.
“When they do the invitation, I’ll probably accept it,” the 39-year-old said of a potential induction to the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I would love to be in the UFC Hall of Fame because that’s what’s taken the sport of mixed martial arts to the next level. There hasn’t been another company to be able to do it,” Johnson said of the UFC.