DJ: Why I don’t celebrate in the end zone
Demetrious Johnson: “‘Don’t celebrate when you’re in the end zone unless you don’t plan on being in there again.’ I plan on being in this position for a long time in my career.”
If UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson wins on Saturday at UFC on FOX 24, he will tie the record for consecutive title defenses set by league G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva. His opponent will be Wilson Reis.
Reis earned a title shot by winning The Ultimate Fighter 24, but the scheduled fight between the pair in July was delayed when Johnson got injured. Reis won two more while Johnson recovered, and finally, it’s on.
I think I’m one of the best in the world – there’s not another guy out there who can mix it up as good as I can, Johnson to Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway for MMAjunkie.
I’ve been in fights when I’ve gotten dropped multiple times in a fight. It’s always funny – they look back at the Tim Elliott fight and go, ‘Oh, that 1:45 was the toughest test,’ and I go, ‘You must’ve forgot about my first Dodson fight, my friend. Or my Dominick Cruz fight. Or my Brad Pickett fight.’ But I always remember the past and remember what I did to get here.
If I get dropped, I’ll make adjustments. If a guy keeps taking me down, I’ll make adjustments. It’s always about making adjustments, and I think there aren’t a lot of guys out there who can make those adjustments in the fight.
At the end of the day, it’s another title fight for me. One of my coaches told me a great quote: ‘Don’t celebrate when you’re in the end zone unless you don’t plan on being in there again.’ I plan on being in this position for a long time in my career.