Demetrious Johnson officially headed to ONE Championship | ABS-CBN
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Demetrious Johnson officially headed to ONE Championship
Demetrious Johnson officially headed to ONE Championship
Santino Honasan,
ABS-CBN Sports
Published Oct 28, 2018 10:10 AM PHT

MANILA, Philippines -- It's official.
MANILA, Philippines -- It's official.
Just days after it was reported that a proposed "trade" was in the works to send former UFC Flyweight World Champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson to Singaporean-based promotion ONE Championship in exchange for former ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben "Funky" Askren, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, as well as Johnson have confirmed that the deal is done.
Just days after it was reported that a proposed "trade" was in the works to send former UFC Flyweight World Champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson to Singaporean-based promotion ONE Championship in exchange for former ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben "Funky" Askren, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, as well as Johnson have confirmed that the deal is done.
"Please join me in welcoming #1 pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship," Sityodtong announced on his Instagram account.
"Please join me in welcoming #1 pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship," Sityodtong announced on his Instagram account.
On his Twitter account, Sityodtong went on to thank all parties involved for what is the first ever trade in MMA history.
On his Twitter account, Sityodtong went on to thank all parties involved for what is the first ever trade in MMA history.
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Thank you to @MightyMouse, @Benaskren, @ONEChampionship, @UFC, and @malkikawa for making the 1st trade in mixed martial arts history possible. #gratitude
— Chatri Sityodtong (@YODCHATRI) October 27, 2018
Thank you to @MightyMouse, @Benaskren, @ONEChampionship, @UFC, and @malkikawa for making the 1st trade in mixed martial arts history possible. #gratitude
— Chatri Sityodtong (@YODCHATRI) October 27, 2018
Johnson, for his part, shared a photo of ONE Championship along with the caption "the next chapter. #blessed".
Johnson, for his part, shared a photo of ONE Championship along with the caption "the next chapter. #blessed".
As reported by MMAJunkie.com's John Morgan earlier this week, the proposed trade would simply mean that both Johnson and Askren would be released from their respective contracts, allowing them to sign with each other's desired promotion.
As reported by MMAJunkie.com's John Morgan earlier this week, the proposed trade would simply mean that both Johnson and Askren would be released from their respective contracts, allowing them to sign with each other's desired promotion.
Not only is this trade historic for MMA, it’s one of the rare times in sports where every party involved is happy with the deal. Johnson wanted to sign with ONE; Askren wanted a chance to prove he’s the best in UFC. Their reps/the orgs worked to get it done. Win-win for all.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 27, 2018
Not only is this trade historic for MMA, it’s one of the rare times in sports where every party involved is happy with the deal. Johnson wanted to sign with ONE; Askren wanted a chance to prove he’s the best in UFC. Their reps/the orgs worked to get it done. Win-win for all.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 27, 2018
In the UFC, Askren now has the opportunity to prove that he is indeed the best welterweight in the world, and he's wasted very little time as he's already started calling out some of the promotion's biggest names.
In the UFC, Askren now has the opportunity to prove that he is indeed the best welterweight in the world, and he's wasted very little time as he's already started calling out some of the promotion's biggest names.
In ONE Championship, Johnson gets a fresh start and a new field of competitors.
In ONE Championship, Johnson gets a fresh start and a new field of competitors.
Johnson's jump to ONE makes it two former UFC champions in two weeks for the Asian MMA powerhouse, as they snagged former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez earlier this month.
Johnson's jump to ONE makes it two former UFC champions in two weeks for the Asian MMA powerhouse, as they snagged former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez earlier this month.
Exciting times indeed for ONE Championship as they close out an already successful 2018 and brace for what's looking like a massive 2019 ahead.
Exciting times indeed for ONE Championship as they close out an already successful 2018 and brace for what's looking like a massive 2019 ahead.
This story originally appeared on the ABS-CBN Sports website.
This story originally appeared on the ABS-CBN Sports website.
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