Getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, so is becoming the first UFC flyweight champion. That’s why Demetrious Johnson (Pictured) asked his bride-to-be to sacrifice part of their romantic wedding and honeymoon for some hardcore training.
Joseph Benavidez easily earned his spot in the flyweight finals by disposing of Yasuhiro ********** in the 2ndRound of their affair. Johnson’s advancement in the four-man tournament was a tad bit more complicated.
That same March evening, it was initially announced Johnson had posted a highly controversial majority decision victory over Ian McCall. However, upon further examination, it was determined one of the three judges sitting cageside had miscalculated his scorecard.
The verdict was subsequently changed to a majority draw, which threw a major monkey wrench into “Mighty Mouse’s” wedding week plans.
“Winning the title before anyone else will be the proudest moment of my life,” Johnson shared. “I was supposed to get married right after the semifinal fight with Ian McCall. I was supposed to win that fight, go get married and have a honeymoon, and then come back and fight Joe for the title. But [my] fight was ruled a draw. The UFC said that I didn’t have to cancel my wedding and honeymoon, and that Joe could fight McCall for the title and I would 100 percent fight the winner.
“I said, ‘No way.’ I want to be the first UFC flyweight champion. I told my wife that I was going to have to training three times a day while we were on our honeymoon. She understood and we made our honeymoon about running along the beach or climbing this hill. We made it work. She understands I have to become the first ever UFC 125lbs champion.”
Johnson and McCall rematched in June, a few weeks after Johnson and his understanding wifey tied the knot in Hawaii, and Johnson posted a decisive unanimous decision win the second time around.
Johnson – and his better half, let’s be real, she sacrificed just as much as he did for this opportunity – look to complete the journey this Saturday at UFC 152. The 125-pound title tilt co-headlines the pay-per-view broadcast.
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September 16, 2012
