Reigning UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson wasted little time in challenging undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a superfight after rumors surfaced earlier this week that “Money” was moving to mixed martial arts (MMA).
As the pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet, “Mighty Mouse” would obviously have no issues slicing through Mayweather inside of the Octagon, especially after getting jacked to the gills. Johnson is so confident in his ability to run through Mayweather in a MMA fight that he’s willing to take away one of the strongest facets of his game.
“I think it would go very well for me, obviously,” Johnson told TMZ Sports. “I’m very well-rounded. It’s mixed martial arts. I would even do a handicap. I won’t even grapple with him. I won’t even go to the ground at all. I’ll get him in the clinch, bang up, hit him in the liver, kick him in the liver, take out his legs and work him.”
Even if Johnson is unable to take Mayweather down and smother him with elite ground-and-pound, “Mighty Mouse” would still destroy “Money” in the clinch. He’s faster, more athletic, and understands where to attack once inside.
“100 percent [I would win],” said Johnson. “Yeah, of course. You have the clinch, there’s kicks, there’s elbows, it’s mixed martial arts. I come from one of the great coaches - Matt Hume, Brad Kertson - and my skill set is well-rounded.
“I’d probably get after that liver. Have to get after that liver. Beat him up in the Muay Thai clinch because he likes to clinch a lot. You see it in his boxing, when he clinches, once we initiate that clinch, I’m gonna throw a knee right to his liver.”
If Mayweather ever decided to burn his own behind and enter the Octagon with zero professional experience in MMA, he’d probably be matched up against a more high-profile pay-per-view (PPV) king like Conor McGregor. But that isn’t stopping Johnson from throwing his hat in the cage and making it known that he’d knock off “Money” on arrival.
“Floyd, come over here and beat up the smallest guy in the UFC,” said Johnson. “Come try your hand, try to beat up the smallest guy.”