DJ: I think about washing my fence, not pressure

UFC Demetrious Johnson, arguably the best fighter in mixed martial arts, appeared recently on Submisson Radio, for a wide-ranging interview. Johnson fight Olympic gold medalist in wrestling/undefeated fighter Henry Cejudo on April 23 at at UFC 197.

Great Anderson Silva and George St-Pierre spoke about the tremendous pressure that they felt being at the top of their division for so long. Johnson said he was blissfully free of any “heavy is the head that wears the crown” feelings.

I’m not feeling that pressure to be honest with you,” said Johnson. “The only time I think about fighting, is when I do interviews and people ask me questions. So once this interview is done, I’m not even gonna think about fighting. I have my kids, I have my wife, you know, I’m thinking about getting my pressure washer out, pressure-washing my fence. Those things keep my mind off of mixed martial arts, and that’s why I think I don’t have that mental drain.

“You know, when I get out there and once I make weight, then I go away from fighting – even when I’m down there in Vegas sometimes and I‘m about to fight, you know, I’m not even thinking about fighting. I’m thinking about what I’m gonna do to pass time and go have a good night. And then Matt Hume always has to remind me like ‘dude, you know, you’ve got a fight Saturday.’ and then I’m like ‘oh s***, that’s right. We have a fight Saturday.’ And I just feel when people are so…their minds are always on fighting, it’s just wasted energy. At the end of the day, were gonna fight, and all that energy will come out of Saturday.

I never put my life on hold whenever I get ready for a fight. And I think that’s one of my perks that helps me out, you know. If I was to sit here and think about my fight 24/7, then I think I’d be mentally drained, but when I got to my fights I’m not mentally drained. People ask me ‘dude, how do you stay focused for 25 minutes?’ And I was like, ‘I just gotta be focused for 25 minutes and mentally prepared and mentally dialed in when we’re fighting for 25 minutes.’ So the whole time when I’m not in that octagon, I’m just out relaxing, having a good time.

“The title does not define who I am, the title just shows what I am capable of doing in the sport of mixed martial arts and that I am a champion. And I’m never attached to the outcome of my fights. You know, regardless of whether I win my fights or I lose them, I’m always humble in defeat or victory and I always go back home and continue to work and become the perfect martial artist. So that will never change, whether I’m the champion or not.