UFC 186
Saturday, April 25
Bell Centre | Montreal
Nothing sends a young contender packing like a record-setting submission.
Demetrious Johnson continued to rule atop the flyweight division with an effortless authority in 2015. While this year saw massive championship overhauls across several weight divisions, the 125-pound picture was a refreshing reprieve from the rest of the chaos. In April, Johnson faced his first test of the year against rising star Kyoji Horiguchi, a test that pretty much everybody assumed he would pass.
That is not to demean Horiguchi at all. He was a talented 24-year-old up-and-comer when he was slated for a title shot and had not lost a fight in years. Despite his unorthodox karate style and dangerous blend of power and speed in his hands, the same notion pervaded all conversation surrounding the fight: It was too much too soon for the Japanese prospect. If anything, his participation in a championship bout was a testament to how thoroughly “Mighty Mouse” had conquered his division and how desperately it needed new challengers.
As expected, the fight was not competitive. Johnson chewed up Horiguchi with chain wrestling and striking, keeping the contender off-balance the entire fight. With each round, Johnson further distanced himself from Horiguchi and the rest of the division. Still, complete domination was not enough for the oft-criticized champion. Instead of coasting to an in-the-bag victory, “Mighty Mouse” turned up the heat in the fifth and final round.
For all of Johnson’s tremendous talent, he has yet to truly become a star in the promotion. Even though his title reign boasted as many finishes as it did decisions at the time, Johnson was tagged with the stubborn title of a “boring fighter.” As the face of the flyweight division and its only champion, Johnson’s underappreciated position in the sport has been a steady source of motivation for the pound-for-pound mainstay.
At the beginning of round five, already four rounds in his pocket, Johnson immediately started hunting for finishes. He took down Horiguchi and swapped dominant positions, trying to find openings. Horiguchi battled back and scrambled to his feet, only to be taken down again moments later. After a few more repetitions of this process -- takedown to dominant position, scramble to the feet, another takedown to dominant position -- Johnson finally found himself in the driver’s seat of a fight-ending position. From side mount, he stepped into a crucifix and started landing unimpeded blows to Horiguchi’s head. As the final seconds of the fight drew closer, Johnson swung his legs over for an armbar and got the tap at the last second -- literally. It is the latest finish in a fight in UFC history and a record that is impossible to surpass.
The significance of the armbar is not just the technical beauty of it. Rather, it is indicative of the type of fighter Johnson has become. Even when he is obviously ahead, even when there are only a few seconds remaining in a fight he is dominating, he never stops looking for a finish. It is a special attribute, and one that should attract more fans to the hyper-talented flyweight. Such a performance can only bring hope that one day people will recognize the greatness of “Mighty Mouse.”