UPDATE: The Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson vs. Wilson Reis was made official at UFC 209 on March 4.
While many other UFC champions are chasing big money PPV paydays, UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson is after history. DJ doesn’t want to wait until the next Las Vegas PPV card to tie Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses (10) — he’d rather fight Wilson Reis in Kansas City on April 15 and notch his tenth consecutive title defense before Summer hits.
“The next date the UFC matchmaker gave me is April 15 in Kansas City. I don’t want to wait all the way until July for another Las Vegas card before I fight again, so west coast friends, family, and followers would have to travel a little further, but Kansas City is doable, and I’m sure it’s going to be a hungry crowd in attendance. I’m ready to do this on April 15 on Fox and pay my respects to one of the greatest fighters of all time by tying his record and joining him in history,” Johnson told MMA Fighting on March 2.
‘Mighty Mouse’ originally wanted to fight Wilson Reis in March in Las Vegas (at UFC 209), but since Reis fought in Brooklyn at UFC 208 the fight needed more time to come together.
“Ideally, I would like to do it in Las Vegas where family, friends, and followers can attend and witness history being made, as I attempt to reach the greatest pinnacle in mixed martial arts while remaining the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
The April 15 card doesn’t yet have an official headliner, though Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson, Tim Elliott vs. Louis Smolka, and Jeremy Stephens vs. Renato Moicano have all been announced for the UFC’s inaugural Kansas City event (UFC on Fox 24).
Johnson was originally going to defend his UFC Flyweight title against Wilson Reis back at UFC 201 last July, but DJ was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury. Reis defeated Hector Sandoval that night and went on to defeat Ulka Sasaki at UFC 208 — keeping his championship opportunity intact. MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani was the first one to hint Wilson Reis would be the man to face Johnson next.
Follow @MMA_Newsline on Twitter for the latest MMA News, Exclusive Interviews and more from your favorite mixed martial artists!
