Latest news with #DemetriousJohnson
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean O'Malley's coach talks working with 'black belt in the clinch' Demetrious Johnson
Sean O'Malley's coach talks working with 'black belt in the clinch' Demetrious Johnson Sean O'Malley has sought help from one of the greatest fighters of all time ahead of UFC 316. O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) runs things back with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) in the June 7 headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. He will look to avenge his title loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 this past September. O'Malley has trained with former UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson in attempt to regain his title. His head coach Tim Welch reflected on a key aspect they worked on when training with ex-UFC flyweight champ Johnson. "I learned a bunch from him just in the clinch," Welch said on his YouTube channel. "He pressures you so hard, forces you to reach out for him, to reach out and grab him, and as soon as you reach out and grab him, he just rifles those knees up the middle – just by getting in your face, moving, moving, moving. Maybe (he's) slipping a punch and being in the corner of your shoulder and not get out of your face where you have to reach for him, and as soon as you reach, his twitchiness and his explosiveness with those knees is so quick. "You saw it firsthand against Henry Cejudo – he put him out so easy. That's his bread and butter. ... That's one thing that really surprised me is just when I grabbed a hold of him. I was asking him some questions in the clinch and he was just moving around, doing all these different things. I'm like, 'F*ck – he's a black belt in the clinch.'" O'Malley discussed his experience training with Johnson, as well. "It felt like kind of what I expected – even more, though," O'Malley said. "His speed and athleticism – that was cool. It was very different than Israel Adesanya. It was just way different being in front of him, but it was cool. Obviously, he's one of the greatest of all time and you watch him fight someone and you could realize that. But then him being in front of you, you're like, 'Yeah, OK – that makes sense."
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Shut your mouth' – Jon Jones channels inner Conor McGregor to mock Tom Aspinall's struggles amid UFC fight doubt
JON JONES has brutally mocked Tom Aspinall for opening up on mental struggles during his octagon hiatus. Wigan warrior Aspinall has been waiting on the sidelines for a heavyweight title unification fight with the former pound-for-pound king since last July. 4 4 4 Negotiations over the bout, which ramped up after Jones' title defence against Stipe Miocic, have yet to bear fruit - despite the UFC brass meeting Jones' demands to be paid " F**K YOU MONEY". The idling has started to get to eat away at interim champion Aspinall, who told ex-flyweight king Demetrious Johnson: "I've been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from… wait. "So now is actually a little bit more of a tricky time for me mentally than it was [after injury in 2022]. "[Before] I constantly had little goals that I could work towards, whereas now, it's like, 'Just be ready and we'll just let you know.' "And it's kind of difficult mentally. . . . This is the fight against Jon Jones, the fight is another thing. "This is the tricky bit where I have to stay switched on, stay motivated. It's tough, sometimes." It didn't take long for Aspinall's frank admission to come to the attention of Jones, who had no sympathy for the Brit bruiser. Commenting under the clip, Jones said: "Shut your mouth and do as you're told." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 The jibe was reminiscent of Conor McGregor, who has often told his rivals, "You'll do what you're told", throughout his career. MMA fans are doubtful a fight between Jones and Aspinall will come to fruition due to the former's conflicting statements on his fighting future. Jon Jones Blasts UFC Rival Tom Aspinall In X-Rated Rant The former long-reigning light-heavyweight king recently claimed he was " DONE" with the fight game but somewhat retracted the claim the following day. In an impromptu X posting spree, he wrote on X: "I don't know if I wanna call it retired. "I feel like I'll always have an ability to pop out and show 'em. "I've had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. "I'm genuinely enjoying life, I'm growing in different ways." Jones has repeatedly been accused of "ducking" by MMA fans since his Madison Square mauling of Stipe Miocic. But the Hall of Famer has rubbished those claims, insisting he's already told the UFC brass of his plans. The 37-year-old: "Y'all barkin' up the wrong tree. "I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. "I have no clue why they haven't shared them with you guys yet." Jones' adamance that the UFC know his plans came just DAYS after UFC CEO and President Dana White GUARANTEED he'd return to the octagon this year. He told Adam Glyn: "Jon Jones will be fighting in 2025. 100 per cent."
Time Out
15-05-2025
- Time Out
Airbnb has just launched two new functions to transform your next trip (in Sydney and beyond)
When Airbnb launched in 2007, it changed the game when it comes to how we holiday. Treehouses, tiny houses, yurts, boathouses, castles and even ice hotels are now just a click (and maybe a cheeky flight) away. Now, Airbnb is shaking up the scene again with its latest revamp, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences and services that could totally transform the way we travel. Again. The major update is 'Airbnb Services' – a brand-new feature that pretty much lets you book all the extras you'd crave on a holiday in the one app. Think massages, private chefs, PT sessions, personalised photoshoots and more. Sounds like exactly what your next gals' getaway or honeymoon trip is calling for, right? There are already more than 10,500 offerings across 260 cities around the world, including Sydney and Melbourne, with more Aussie destinations to what you can book for your Sydney staycation? Read on. On the 'Airbnb Services' tab in Sydney, you can book a private chef to cook you a Mediterranean feast from the comfort of your accommodation, or book a professional photographer to photograph you on a journey around the city's most iconic sites. Alongside the 'Services' function, Airbnb has relaunched its 'Airbnb Experiences' function – unveiling a fresh line-up of cultural, culinary and creative experiences, all curated and led by local experts. Fancy heading on a guided scenic run through Sydney Harbour, training with a Navy officer on Bondi Beach or taking a pottery class by the ocean? Easy. Want to take a painting class with an contemporary Indigenous artist or learn about natural wine with one of Sydney's favourite wine gurus (the man behind beloved wine website DRNKS)? You can do that too. The best bit is, it's all in one place – making Airbnb your one-stop holiday-planning/ itinerary app. Airbnb has also put together some super exclusive celeb-hosted experiences – but you'll have to fly overseas for these ones. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, you could chill out on the Short n' Sweet tour set with Sabrina Carpenter, train like an MMA champ with Demetrious Johnson, get beauty tips from Gigi Gorgeous, play video games with Megan Thee Stallion and master the art of pastry at the renowned French Bastards bakery. There's more to come in Sydney – with the Waratah due to launch a foodie-based experience, and others in the works.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
ONE Championship launches new mobile game with ONE Fight Arena
ONE Championship has launched its first official mobile game, ONE Fight Arena, allowing players the opportunity to step into the ring as their favourite stars. Advertisement The fast-paced player-versus-player action allows gamers to choose from more than 20 ONE Championship fighters, including Demetrious Johnson, Stamp Fairtex, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Jonathan Haggerty. The game offers an immersive, first-person view where users guide fighters from humble beginnings to world championship glory. Players earn in-game currency by competing in fights and completing quests, and it can be exchanged for perks such as official merchandise, digital rewards, tournament access, and VIP experiences. In a news release, the promotion said that ONE Fight Arena gave players the option for 'digital ownership of certain in-game items, allowing character upgrades to NFT 'pro editions''. Key features include quick two-to-three minute battles between players, strategic match-three gameplay, and 3D graphics modelled on real martial arts techniques. Advertisement The game, produced in partnership with Animoca Brands' subsidiary Notre Game, is available for free on Google Play and the App Store.
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-UFC champ Demetrious Johnson sticking to retirement despite getting multiple offers
MMA retirements often times don't last. However, Demetrious Johnson is certain his is definite. The majority of retirements in combat sports, and particularly MMA, after seemingly taken with a grain of salt. The fame, potential for financial upside, glory and competition have frequently led to athletes picking the gloves back up after putting them down. Johnson, a former UFC and ONE Championship titleholder, hasn't once contemplated making a comeback to MMA since he announced to the the world that he was done in September. 'There's no point to it,' Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio. 'There's got to be a point in time when it's like, 'OK, when is it enough?' I felt that after the Adriano (Moraes) fight, this is the pinnacle. I was UFC champion, I was a ONE Championship champion, there's nothing else for me to prove here. What, make more money?' Although Johnson made his announcement less than seven months ago, he had already been out of action for well over a year prior to that in a title defense against Moraes. He knew he was done long before sharing it with the world. In recent month, many fans have clamored for Johnson to compete. Current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja called him out after his most recent defense in December, but to not avail. Johnson, 38, said numerous offers to compete again have come his way, but there's been nothing that's even slightly tempting. 'Nope, not at all,' Johnson said. 'I've had offers come in. I've had great offers, had a few offers come in, and I'm like, 'No, I'm good,' because I feel I try to be a man of my word. I told myself that I was never going to take a fight to make money. Those days of using my body to make money are over. I'm not going to sign a contract and go fight.' Johnson is considered by many as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. He still holds the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses at 11. 'Mighty Mouse' said he's firm stance on retirement, and it's made all the more easy because he has financial stability. Not only from his fighting career, but from the lines of revenue he created along the way and his growing brand as an analyst and YouTube personality. Moreover, Johnson emphasizes above all that his decision was never made in haste, so in his mind, any road back to MMA is impossible to unwind. 'I think it was important for me to take that time,' Johnson said. 'I think as a professional athlete in mixed martial arts, you never know when it's the right time when it comes to mixed martial arts. Like, 'Oh, man. This guy is on an eight-fight winning streak, what is left for him to do? Should he keep on fighting to make money? Should he retire?' For me, I knew after that Adriano fight in Denver, Colorado, I was like, 'Oh, man. Is this all my life is meant to be? Just keep on fighting over and over again and go to the press conference?' 'So I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to see if I can be able to sustain, make money without getting punched in the face.' So I gave myself a year to see if I was going to miss it, miss the press conference, miss fighting, miss competing. And as time went on, I fell in love with competing in jiu-jitsu with the gi and I started building the YouTube and started doing the Mighty Cast, and doing different things and working on different businesses, I was like, 'Man, I really don't miss it.' I didn't want to hold up the division as well.'
