Demetrious Johnson is not the kind to respond quickly, but he couldn’t let Ilia Topuria‘s newest words pass without a single reaction. During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, the reigning featherweight champion threw some unusual shade at Johnson, claiming he was never a fan of “Mighty Mouse,” and even insulted his nickname by combining it with “Mickey Mouse.” While the Spanish-Georgian acknowledged Johnson’s dominance and technical prowess, the entire outburst came across as a needless insult at an MMA veteran who is really well regarded. So, how did Johnson respond?
For those who haven’t seen the latest edition yet, Ilia Topuria admitted on his most recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience that he wasn’t a huge fan of Demetrious Johnson in his prime. While Joe Rogan was all praise for the former UFC fighter, Ilia Topuria said, “I don’t know. I never was a big fan of him. Never. First of all, when you call yourself a Mickey Mouse or Mighty Mouse, I always thought that he was a Mickey Mouse. Bro, why the f—- you’re calling yourself a Mickey Mouse? He was a good fighter. He was a very technical fighter. He dominated the whole division. How many times did he defend his belt? Like 14 times?”
However, Johnson, as usual, did not go on a rant or respond with rage. Instead, he responded with only three words: “All Gucci boiiss .” Short, cheeky, and effective. That’s Demetrious Johnson in a nutshell. The weird-looking comment can be loosely translated as “it’s all good, boys,” showing fans the ultimate calm flex. After all, he has ruled the UFC with 11 consecutive UFC championship defenses and is mentioned in practically every GOAT conversation.
Ilia Topuria says he wasn’t the biggest fan of Demetrious Johnson in his prime:
“I never was a big fan of him. When you call yourself a ‘Mickey Mouse’…
Bro, why the f*** you calling yourself a Mickey Mouse.”
@joerogan #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/K2fFAHytSS
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 16, 2025
What’s even more fascinating is that Johnson had recently hailed Ilia Topuria‘s performance and even said that he would be a difficult matchup for Alexander Volkanovski. In fact, Johnson cautioned ‘The Great’ against engaging in an instant rematch, citing Topuria’s power as too risky. He was offering the guy sincere compliments, but ‘El Matador’ still found a way to toss a rock at him. However, it is possible that the Spanish-Georgian is not in the right frame of mind. After all, he is getting sidetracked in the lightweight division despite being promised a title fight by Dana White. In fact, on JRE, he even refused to fight until he got what he wanted.
Ilia Topuria demands Dana White book dream matchup
Given Topuria’s weird jab at Demetrious Johnson after earning praise, it’s difficult to shake the impression that his mind is elsewhere—more focused on Islam Makhachev than anything ‘Mighty Mouse’ has to say. In fact, in the same Joe Rogan podcast, the former featherweight champion reiterated his refusal to fight anyone other than the reigning lightweight champion. There are no tune-up fights. There are no contender eliminators. It’s just Islam Makhachev or nothing for him.
He said, “I would like to fight with Islam, that is for sure. I wouldn’t fight for a no. 1 contender fight. If Islam decides he doesn’t want to fight me, I’ll sit until you’re gonna have to fight me.” While his confidence is part of what makes him so appealing, there is also a seething tension behind the surface. Fighters like Topuria seek ideal matchups not only because they are confident, but also because they are surrounded by expectations. He knows the UFC promised him a title opportunity after he relinquished his featherweight title, and now that Makhachev is brushing him off, he’s becoming frustrated.
He’s taken it to social media, mentioned it on Rogan, and even put Khabib’s name into the mix—anything to apply pressure and keep the narrative going. However, the UFC does not always reward ultimatums. If Islam Makhachev continues to ignore him and Dana White remains unconcerned, ‘El Matador’ may be forced to wait for a long time—possibly too long. The window in MMA is tight, and while Topuria believes he has complete control, the sport has a tendency of bringing even the brightest stars down. Still, he’s willing to risk everything right now. No backups. There is no backup plan. Just Islam Makhachev, or he’ll wait till the cage door opens. Dana White now has the ball in his court. What do you think is going to happen next? Let us know in the comments.
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