UFC flyweight champ Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson will put his title on the line for the ninth time at UFC 201 next month when he faces #8 contender Wilson Reis. And, in typical Mighty Mouse fashion, the reigning champ isn’t talking much game in the build-up.
“Just another opponent. Just like Henry Cejudo, he’s just another opponent,” Johnson told me in California recently.
Johnson defeated previously unbeaten Olympic gold medal wrestler Cejudo via first-round TKO in April. It was Johnson’s eighth consecutive title defense and his tenth straight win. He is undefeated as a flyweight.
As the 125lb contendership picture rolls on, Cejudo will coach season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter alongside fellow flyweight Joseph Benavidez. The two coaches will train opposing teams of flyweights. But, although the TUF 24 competitors will be fighting for a UFC contract and could potentially challenge Johnson for the title down the line, the champ doesn’t have much interest in possible future opponents. Instead, he’ll be watching for the interaction between two former opponents of his – both of whom he has beaten convincingly.
“I’ll probably watch the show just to see the banter between Joseph and Cejudo, but I’m not the type of person that likes to sit there and watch somebody I’m going to be fighting. I like to focus on what I’m going to be doing.”
TUF 24 is scheduled to premiere on August 31st.
