Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Bantamweights

10. Demetrious Johnson

Our first entry on the list is a curious one; a man widely considered both the greatest flyweight and one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever. In fact, he is generally considered greater overall than the No. 1 fighter on this particular list. I don't need to list all of Johnson's superlative fighting qualities, whether it be his phenomenal grappling, an outstanding mix of wrestling and BJJ, his excellent striking, especially his kicks, his tireless and technical movement, or the greatest cardio and mental preparation the sport has ever seen. Yet, the beginning and now waning stages of his amazing career were contested at 135 pounds. While he lost his World Extreme Cagefighting debut to top bantamweight contender Brad Pickett and was then dominated by Dominick Cruz in a UFC bantamweight title shot a year and half later, Johnson had four straight victories in between, including a submission of Damacio Page and decisions over legends in Norifumi Yamamoto “Kid” and Miguel Torres.

Johnson wouldn't return to 135 pounds again until eight years later, when he became the One Championship tournament and then bantamweight champion, going 4-1. That includes easy decisions over tough opposition like Wada Tatsumitsu and Danny Kingad. The loss came against then ONE bantamweight champion Adrian Moraes, a man who looked to be at least two weight classes heavier than Johnson during their bouts. Yet, so great is Johnson that he knocked out Moraes in the rematch anyway to reclaim the crown. Johnson's overall career at bantamweight may not seem so great, yet it's hard to think of a clearly better inclusion here.

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