Are you in favor for or against Demetrious Johnson fighting the Dillashaw-Garbrandt winner and why?
JOSHUA GARCIA, MMATorch Contributor
I am not in favor of DJ fighting the Dillashaw-Garbrandt winner. This is not because DJ wouldn’t be ready for either, but each of them still has plenty to prove in their own division. Garbrandt has zero title defenses and yet he talks like he has cleared out the division. Put the title on the line a few times then he can start chirping. At this point he needs to stay quiet.
SEAN COVINGTON, MMATorch Contributor
Not really in favor of this because Demetrious Johnson has absolutely nothing to prove from a point of view of just wanting to see the best possible fights. I like the idea but the UFC is clearly just doing it to try and get a loss on DJ’S record because they don’t want him to be the G.O.A.T. The UFC doesn’t want DJ as the G.O.A.T. because they view him the way people view the Spurs in the NBA, just bland. Sure they win but they aren’t exciting and don’t have an enjoyable style of play. That’s not true at all though, DJ and the Spurs are great.
ZACK HEYDORN, MMATorch Contributor
One hundred percent yes. As I’ve written about before, Demetrious Johnson is one of the most underappreciated fighters in the history of the UFC. That comes from not fighting in a division that has a lot of talent. This fight would give Johnson a notch on his belt saying that he made an effort to fight (and beat) top tier competition. From an actual fight analysis perspective, Johnson’s style meshes well with both Dillashaw and Garbrandt which would mix into a very entertaining bout.
COLE HENRY, MMATorch Contributor
Absolutely. I am a fan of DJ, but honestly, I don’t think I can consider him the best fighter until he beats someone who I truly believe is elite. Now I don’t mean any disrespect to the many great opponents he’s faced, but he has faced many of them when they were perhaps a bit green. While that’s no fault of his own I still can’t help but hold it against him. If he were to defeat the winner of TJ Dillashaw/Cody Garbrandt, I think that would give him the win that he needs to truly reach that legendary status that many claim he has already reached. Sure, 11 title defenses is very impressive but in a division that is so new and seemingly void of elite level competition something just seems to be missing.
JOHN HARRIS, MMATorch Contributor
I am in favor of it. Demetrious Johnson has already accomplished everything he can in the flyweight division. He has never received the respect he deserves from the fans of the UFC has he often not been in the main event during his championship run. It is time for him to take a new challenge and get the main stream exposure he deserves and a fight with the Dillashaw-Garbrandt winner would be a perfect opportunity to do that.
RICK MONSEY, MMATorch Contributor
Yes, let’s get Mighty Mouse competing against opponents that fans would actually be interested in seeing. Johnson has established himself as an incredible fighter who beats people he’s better than from the start. Now let’s see him fight someone who has a skill level that is elite.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATorch Columnist
Yeah, why not? The flyweight division doesn’t have any contenders who absolutely need a title shot and this would be a huge fight. The only question is whether they fight at 130lbs? Or 125lbs? Would Johnson be interested in a fight at 135lbs? It’d be an exciting fight, and both fighters would have something to gain. For Johnson, he’d have a chance to beat a champion from another division. For Dillashaw/Garbrandt, they’d have a chance to beat the best fighter in the world right now. That’d be a big feather in the cap for anyone.
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