UFC
UFC Flyweight Champ Demetrious Johnson wants to break Anderson Silva's title defense record
Aug 31, 2015 - 1:10:50 PM UFC Flyweight Champ Demetrious Johnson wants to break Anderson Silva's title defense record

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson has been pretty much unstoppable since moving to the flyweight division, improving exponentially throughout his time in the division.

He enters his seventh title defense on Saturday night at UFC 191, a run which is bringing him near the longest title runs in UFC history, and his goal now is to break the organization's all-time record.

"When I got in the sport, this was a hobby for me, and right now I'm working for my seventh title defense," Johnson said in an interview with MMAjunkie.com. "The record held right now is by Anderson Silva, and it's 10. So if I can break that, it would be an awesome thing. Then to be able to have the most finishes as a flyweight – most knockouts, submissions and TKOs? That's another goal. Just being the most active flyweight and champion. I'm a guy that hasn't had injuries, and that's a goal I set for myself."

Johnson believes he's going to get past John Dodson a second time, despite Johnson giving him the toughest flyweight fight he's had yet in their first matchup. When that's done, he believes there are plenty of names still available in the division for him to face after this matchup.

"There's still a lot of guys I haven't fought," he said. "I haven't fought Sergio Pettis, I haven't fought Henry Cejudo, and I haven't fought Ryan Benoit. Just because those guys aren't big stars with a name, like the other guys, and had to work their way up there to have the chance to test their skillset against a guy like Dodson or Benavidez or Ian McCall, doesn't mean they're not a challenge and I'm not looking forward to fighting them."

Penick's Analysis: If Dodson doesn't get the job done on Saturday night, it's hard to find anyone on that list of potential challengers who will stop Johnson from breaking this record. He's only 29-years-old, and has been making such technical strides in each fight that he's just proven better than the rest of the field. He's a better striker, he's better in the submission game, he's faster, he's stronger, and he's just proving to be nigh unbeatable in this weight class. Now, with that said, Dodson hurt Johnson multiple times in their first fight, and with more cardio in that fight may have won the decision. This is the big test for Johnson on Saturday night, and if he can move past Dodson, it's going to be hard for anyone else to come close.