“There’s a lot of things I’ve been through”

A fly world champion Demetrius Johnson knows that tattoos are portraits of important memories, and his sleeves are no exception.

The mixed martial arts legend recently spoke to Ariel Helwani at The MMA Hour and briefly talked about how and why he got a tattoo on his left arm.

Johnson said it was the reunion with his biological father and the death of his sister that became the inspiration for the art of bodybuilding.

While it’s already a large enough piece, ‘Mighty Mouse’ emphasizes that he plans to fill it up even more as more life events occur.

Demetrius Johnson speak:

“I’ve always loved tattoos as every single tattoo on the body, it’s always been inspired by when I go through a long period of time when I think about certain things… I want more, but like I said I want to fill in this and this could be something when I’m ready to put on my gloves and as if I’m done I’m no longer what you know what to pursue this I do in my life again. “

He added:

“There are so many things I’ve been through in life that have shaped me the way I am. You know, growing up without a father and meeting him when I was 30 and seeing him for what he was. I like ‘what would my life be like if I had a dad in my life?’ He was absolutely incredible, and then it was my sister going over to see the whole thing and then just seeing so many things that have shaped me after my sister passed away. That’s where I was like watching her die, I was like ‘it’s game over right there.’ “

Demetrious Johnson, who got the tattoo after his mixed match with Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE X this past March, was having his best win yet in the ONE Championship as he beat Adriano Moraes in the fourth round. of ONE main event on Prime Video 1.

The fight was also the first time his sleeve was shown in public.

Demetrious Johnson pays tribute to his best friend

Another reason why Demetrius Johnson ink his left arm is in honor of his best friend.

Johnson’s tattoo is done in a Polynesian style and he says it’s his way of paying homage to his Hawaiian best friend.

He added that it was his friend who was one of the most important people who helped him overcome the adversities in life.

“I can’t choose to go peacefully or to go suddenly, so all of that has affected me and this is like you know, a contribution to the story of my life and it is up his sleeve and is Polynesian. My Hawaiian best friend and this is a little inspiration from him because he helped me, you know how to get through the hardest times of my life and everything. “