THE CANADIAN PRESS
Bantamweight Demetrious (Mighty Mouse) Johnson packs a lot into his week — a full-time job, fight training, his fiancee and even some video gaming.
“Busy guy,” Johnson said. “Very busy guy.”
While Johnson’s goal is to focus on being a full-time mixed martial artist, he has no complaints. And the five-foot-three fighter is quickly garnering attention in the cage despite his splintered schedule.
The 135-pounder from Parkland, Wash., has won three straight and is coming off an impressive victory over Japanese star Norifumi (Kid) Yamamoto.
On Saturday night, he faces another name opponent in former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“I’m honoured to do it,” Johnson says.
Torres (38-3) has won two straight — over Antonio Banuelos and Charlie Valencia — since losses to Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles (a defeat that cost him his title in April 2009).
The hard-nosed Torres has retooled under Montreal coach Firas Zahabi, trading in his hell-for-leather style for a more cerebral approach.
“Totally different,” said Johnson. “He’s more of a calculated fighter and he’s more reserved. He uses his strength, he’s a very tall fighter and he’s very long for the weight class. He’s obviously doing a good job.”
Johnson (13-1) used his speed and footwork to befuddle Yamamoto, changing levels and cutting down the distance between the two in a flash to launch one takedown after another.
While the five-foot-nine Torres is dangerous off his back, wrestling is not his forte. The 30-year-old veteran will no doubt look to use a stinging jab and 10-inch reach advantage to try to fend off Johnson.
A size disadvantage is par for the course for Johnson.
“I’m just used to it. It’s the story of my life,” said the fighter known as DJ to his friends.
A former high school wrestler, Johnson ran track and cross-country to stay in shape. He started training in MMA in October 2005 after watching “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV show.
Former IFL and UFC fighter Reese Andy convinced him to sign up with AMC Martial Arts in Kirkland, Wash. He continued to work there, with Steve Skidds and then Matt Hume.
Soon he was juggling his training with studies at Pierce Community College and a full-time job as an assistant manager at a shoe store.
When his grades began to drop, his college adviser called him in.
“There’s just not enough time in the day so (something) has to stop,” Johnson recalls being told. “And I was like ‘All right, it’s very nice meeting you and I’ll talk to you later.’ And I went off to work full time and train full time.”
He hasn’t looked back — or stopped moving — since.
His nickname came from his early days at the gym, a handle that covers his size, refusal to back down against bigger men and cauliflower ears from his wrestling days.
Away from the gym, he works 40 hours a week at the Caraustar recycling plant in Tacoma. He call himself a “utility man,” doing everything from operating machinery and forklifts to packaging material.
In recent weeks, he has been working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., then training from 3 to 7.
Given his hectic schedule — which now includes a May 2012 wedding date with his fiancee, Destiny — it’s no wonder he rarely tops 145 pounds.
Contrast that to Brad Pickett, the only fighter to beat him. The injured Pickett told him at the recent UFC fighter summit that he was up to 165 pounds.
“He was like ‘I haven’t been training for a while.’ And I was like ‘Still, if I haven’t been training I’d get to maybe 145.’
“Yeah, I fight bigger guys.”
Johnson, who normally walks around at 140 to 142 pounds, was slated to meet Brazilian Renan Barao at UFC 130 but was moved to face Torres in place of the injured Pickett.
NOTES — Jared Hamman will move down to middleweight to face C.B. Dollaway in a televised UFC card Aug. 14 in Milwaukee.
