Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has agreed to a new eight-fight contract with UFC, ensuring he'll continue his dominant title run with the company.
As shared by Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, the 29-year-old confirmed the news during an appearance on the MMA Hour:
Mighty Mouse has been the UFC's flyweight champion since 2012 and is widely considered among the organization's top pound-for-pound fighters.
Per ESPN.com, Johnson hasn't lost a fight since 2011, winning the flyweight belt a year later by beating Joseph Benavidez. He has cleaned out the division since then and easily took care of business against Henry Cejudo at UFC 197 in April, winning by knockout in the first round.
Mighty Mouse is quickly becoming one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, needing just two more wins to match Anderson Silva's record of 10 successive title defenses. Per UFC.com's official rankings, he currently ranks second in the pound-for-pound standings behind Jon Jones.
UFC's lighter divisions have increased in popularity in recent years, in part thanks to fighters like Johnson and featherweight champion Conor McGregor, and Johnson's attractive fighting style makes it easy to promote his fights. He's a well-rounded, lightning-fast fighter who stands out most for his striking, and only one of his last four fights has gone the distance.
Here's a look at some of his career highlights, courtesy of the UFC's official YouTube channel:
Locking Johnson up to a new deal was a no-brainer for the UFC, and the length of the contract shows just how much faith the organisation has in his ability to keep winning fights.
With contract negotiations over, Mighty Mouse can now fully concentrate on Silva's record, beginning with a possible third fight against Benavidez, a bout he'd gladly make, per Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting.
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