Earlier today in a new interview with TMZ Sports, former UFC pound-for-pound king, Anderson Silva passed the G.O.A.T. torch to UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
It was a touching gesture, as Johnson has tied Silva’s title defense record, and looks to surpass it in 2018.
In the interview Silva stated, “Demetrious Johnson is the new champion. Is the best one. I have my passion about my sport, and I love when people talk about this. Because Demetrious, people need to respect because he’s a great fighter. I think Demetrious [is the greatest of all time].”
Now, in a new interview with TMZ, Demetrious Johnson had a chance to respond to Anderson’s passing of the torch, and while he is honored that the legend did it, he humbly does not accept.
Here’s Johnson’s statement:
“It’s always an honor when somebody like Anderson Silva (says something like that because of) the status he’s done and what he’s done to mixed martial arts. It’s amazing. I remember my first fight in the UFC. It was UFC 126. Anderson Silva vs. (Vitor) Belfort. I was there. He was main event. I like the guy. I think he’s had an amazing career, and he’s still going.”
“I don’t put a lot of stockage to that. Because, like I told somebody, once Jon Jones becomes reinstated, I’m sure he’s going to jump above me.”
“I do believe that I have, out of all the champions and all of the opposition I ever fought, I’ve fought different styles – so, it’s getting there,” Johnson said.
Who do you designate as MMA’s greatest of all time?
