O’Malley: DJ Comeback Possible After UFC 316 Training?
- Former UFC bantamweight champion sean O'Malley believes Demetrious Johnson still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
- Johnson, who retired from MMA after a title victory in ONE Championship, was called out by UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja following a win against Kai Asakura.
- O'Malley, who is seeking to rebound from a loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, has been training with Johnson in Arizona.
Sean O’malley believes Demetrious Johnson could beat Alexandre Pantoja if he returned to the UFC, a bold prediction stemming from Johnson’s training alongside O’Malley ahead of UFC 316.Despite retiring from MMA, johnson, who formerly held a record of 11 consecutive flyweight title defenses, has shown continued prowess. Johnson previously declined Pantoja’s callout, even when offered a $2 million deal, raising questions about his future in the Octagon. O’Malley highlights Johnson’s retained explosiveness and skills, despite his age, yet questions his desire for another grueling fight camp, suggesting a potential shift in priorities. News Directory 3 has the latest on fight predictions. Will Johnson make a sensational comeback? Discover what’s next …
O’Malley Predicts Demetrious Johnson Could Beat Pantoja in UFC Comeback
Updated May 29, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion sean O’Malley believes Demetrious Johnson still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. O’Malley, preparing for his rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 in Newark, N.J., has enlisted Johnson in his training camp.
Johnson, who retired from MMA after a title victory in ONE Championship, was called out by UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja following a win against Kai Asakura. Despite the challenge, Johnson declined the offer to return to the Octagon.
O’Malley, who is seeking to rebound from a loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, has been training with Johnson in Arizona. He shared his thoughts on a potential Johnson-Pantoja matchup during an interview.
“If DJ wanted to come back and fight Pantoja, you can’t count DJ out, you just can’t. That would be a very competitive fight and I wouldn’t be surprised if Demetrious won,” O’Malley saeid.
O’Malley added that Johnson, despite being 38, remains explosive and skilled. Though, he noted that Johnson may lack the desire for another grueling fight camp, especially given his success in content creation and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“He’s still got it! He’s 38, still explosive, fast, skills are still there.He very well could come back, but he just mentally doesn’t want to go through a fight camp,” O’Malley stated.
Johnson’s UFC career was marked by dominance, including a record 11 consecutive flyweight title defenses and five submission wins in title fights. He declined Pantoja’s invitation despite a reported $2 million offer.
What’s next
O’Malley is focused on his upcoming rematch at UFC 316, hoping that Johnson’s training contributions will lead to a victory.