Video: Demetrious Johnson breaks down in tears backstage after emotional retirement
Demetrious Johnson wonât be fighting in MMA anymore and he didnât fight the tears after announcing his retirement.
âMighty Mouseâ officially called it a wrap on his illustrious career this past Friday at ONE 168 in Denver, hanging up the gloves after 15 years as a pro, 11 UFC flyweight title defenses, and another title reign for ONE Championship.
The 38-year-old could hardly keep it together while delivering his retirement speech and the waterworks were flowing backstage, too. On Monday, Johnson released an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at his emotional farewell.
Watch the video below.
Following his in-cage moment, Johnson recorded an exclusive testimonial for his YouTube channel, and it wasnât long before he was crying all over again.
âI didnât think it was going to be that emotional, to be honest with you,â Johnson said. âI think itâs always good not preparing a speech because I feel when you prepare a speech, you focus on reading the words and getting your thoughts out. But I think when you speak from the heart and you feel the energy of the crowd, you see your wife, you see your kids, you see f*cking [coach Matt Hume], itâs just f*cking hard, you know?
âItâs not hard, itâs just a big chapter of my life that for so long Iâve dedicated to martial arts. Iâm going to continue to do martial arts… a couple of guys that I talked to, Urijah Faber, he said, âThereâs only a short amount of time you get to be a professional athlete and be able to compete at the highest level.â Itâs not that I canât train anymore and I canât fight and I canât do it, but I feel there has to come a point in time when an athlete is like, when is enough enough? For me, I felt like it was that moment.â
Johnson composed himself and elaborated more on his reasons for retirement, but was soon in tears again after meeting up with his coach and longtime friend Matt Hume.
âHeâs like a father to me,â Johnson said of Hume. âYouâve always been amazing. … Youâve just always been there, not as a coach, but as a father and mentor.â
âI feel like I am to you,â Hume said before embracing Johnson.
The retirement festivities started earlier in the night for Johnson as his family put together a tribute video, which included UFC stars Israel Adesanya, Sean OâMalley, and Aljamain Sterling, BKFC star Mike Perry, Bibiano Fernandes, Tyron Woodley, as well as Johnsonâs loved ones and training partners.
