Demetrious Johnson didn’t hold back after watching Israel Adesanya suffer another tough defeat at UFC Seattle.
From cageside at the Climate Pledge Arena, “Mighty Mouse” witnessed Adesanya’s second-round stoppage loss to Joe Pyfer and his reaction says a lot about where he believes the former champion stands.
Adesanya came into the fight looking sharp, showing flashes of his old form early on. But once Pyfer found his rhythm, the fight quickly slipped away. The loss extended Adesanya’s skid, adding to previous setbacks against Nassourdine Imavov, Dricus du Plessis, and Sean Strickland.
Despite the growing calls for retirement, Adesanya has remained defiant, insisting he’s not done yet. But Demetrious Johnson sees things differently.
“Dog, you don’t need to f—ing fight,” Johnson said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I would retire if I was him. I think he’s done everything. There’s nothing else for him to do. The man’s been on a tear, on a grind. I think he deserves to relax and enjoy himself and find something else.”
Johnson’s stance comes from experience. He walked away from the sport on his own terms after a legendary run, finishing strong with back-to-back wins over Adriano Moraes in ONE Championship. Since then, he has consistently resisted any comeback talk, choosing instead to enjoy life outside active competition.
“When I care about the athletes, I don’t like to see them fight, just because things can happen,” Johnson added. “I would retire if I were him… there’s nothing else for him to do in mixed martial arts. He’s done everything. He’s been on a tear and put his body on the line, and I think he deserves to relax and enjoy himself.”
Adesanya’s recent run has sparked comparisons to legends like Anderson Silva, who struggled in the final stretch of his career. It’s a difficult phase many great fighters face, and Johnson believes stepping away at the right time matters just as much as the achievements inside the cage.
For now, Adesanya remains committed to continuing his career. But with voices like Demetrious Johnson weighing in, the conversation around his future isn’t going away anytime soon.
