Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson, renowned for his storied mixed martial arts career, made a strategic transition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition after retiring from MMA. Promoted to black belt by Bibiano Fernandes and Yan McCane, Johnson reached a pivotal milestone in his grappling evolution. He selected B-Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas—a hub for elite no-gi practitioners—as his training base, immersing himself in a highly technical environment.

Johnson's black belt debut unfolded at the 2024 IBJJF Master World Championship, where he advanced to the quarter-finals before being submitted. Demonstrating rapid adaptation to the competitive circuit, he secured a gold medal in his weight class and a silver in the absolute division at the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championship. As of September 2024, Johnson dedicated approximately five hours per week exclusively to Jiu-Jitsu, focusing on refining his grappling skills after stepping away from MMA.

IBJJF Competition Highlights and Setbacks

Johnson's journey in the Jiu-Jitsu arena features both notable victories and challenging defeats. At the 2024 IBJJF Master World Championship, he reached the quarter-finals before being submitted. At the 2025 IBJJF Master World Championship on August 31, 2025, Johnson faced an early exit, losing by submission in his opening match and sustaining a knee injury.

High-Profile Sparring and Media Presence

Beyond IBJJF events, Johnson declined a proposed grappling match with Mikey Musumeci under the ONE Championship banner, choosing to pursue other competitive opportunities. He has trained with world-class grapplers such as Kade Ruotolo and Tye Ruotolo, further integrating into the upper echelon of the grappling community. On June 17, 2025, Johnson appeared in a widely viewed grappling video with YouTube personality KSI, challenging KSI to survive one minute against him—a testament to his technical prowess and mainstream appeal.

Community Discourse and Superfight Prospects

Johnson remains active in the broader grappling conversation. He discussed the possibility of a superfight at CJI 2 on March 10, 2025, and offered insights on the Ruotolo brothers’ transition to MMA on May 29, 2025, highlighting his analytical perspective on the evolving landscape of submission grappling and mixed martial arts.

Advocacy for Athlete Safety and Technical Critique

Johnson has taken a firm stance on safety in modern Jiu-Jitsu, particularly regarding heel hooks. On August 23, 2025, he advocated for banning heel hooks in training, citing the severe risk of injury and referencing a teammate named Matt who suffered an ACL tear. He also pointed to Tye Ruotolo’s knee injury against Levi Jones-Leary as further evidence of the dangers inherent in leg entanglements.

Johnson has openly criticized the modern no-gi scene’s reliance on guard pulling and heel hooks, emphasizing the breadth of effective submission options available. That same day, Jitsmagazine reported Johnson’s call for a ban on heel hooks in Jiu-Jitsu competition, underscoring his commitment to athlete safety.

Commentary on Grappling in MMA

On August 17, 2025, Johnson publicly defended Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling-centric strategy at UFC 319 and criticized referee Marc Goddard’s decisions to stand the fighters up. His commentary reflects a deep appreciation for grappling-based tactics within MMA and reinforces his advocacy for technical grappling as a core element of combat sports.