Sergio Pettis Praises Demetrious Johnson's UFC Hall of Fame Induction

The former Bellator champ calls Johnson 'one of the GOATs' in MMA.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:34am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in a cubist style, breaking down a mixed martial arts fight or competition into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in muted blues, grays, and blacks, conceptually representing the analytical precision and technical mastery that defined Demetrious Johnson's legendary MMA career.A cubist interpretation of Demetrious Johnson's legendary MMA career, deconstructed into a geometric mosaic that captures the analytical precision and technical mastery that defined his reign as one of the sport's all-time greats.Chicago Today

Demetrious Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion, has been announced as part of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame class. Sergio Pettis, a former Bellator MMA champion, has praised the induction, calling Johnson 'one of the GOATs' in MMA and saying the honor is 'much deserved' after his dominant title reign in the UFC.

Why it matters

Demetrious Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history due to his record-setting title reign in the UFC flyweight division. His upcoming induction into the UFC Hall of Fame recognizes his accomplishments and legacy in the sport.

The details

Pettis, who is set to headline a PFL event in Chicago on April 11th, commented on Johnson's upcoming Hall of Fame induction. Pettis said Johnson 'deserves all of that' recognition, noting that his only loss in his UFC career came in a close fight against Henry Cejudo. Pettis expressed excitement and happiness for Johnson, stating the honor is 'much needed and necessary' after his retirement from the sport.

  • Demetrious Johnson was recently announced as being part of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame class.
  • Sergio Pettis made his comments ahead of his main event fight with Mitch McKee at PFL Chicago on April 11th, 2026.

The players

Demetrious Johnson

A former UFC flyweight champion who is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time due to his dominant title reign.

Sergio Pettis

A former Bellator MMA champion who is set to headline a PFL event in Chicago on April 11th, 2026.

Khamzat Chimaev

The current UFC middleweight champion who recently grappled with Demetrious Johnson, showcasing a significant size and strength advantage.

Henry Cejudo

The only fighter to defeat Demetrious Johnson in the UFC, handing him a close loss that ended his long title reign.

Mitch McKee

Sergio Pettis' opponent in the main event of the PFL Chicago event on April 11th, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Much deserved. Demetrious Johnson is one of the GOATs in MMA in general, but also in the UFC. He had a hell of a reign. He barely lost that last fight against [Henry] Cejudo. So, man, he deserves all of that. I'm very excited for him. I'm very happy for him and see him getting his flowers. It's much, much [needed and] necessary for him. Especially after being retired and being done with the sport now. To get that love is very powerful. I'm very happy for him. Much deserved.”

— Sergio Pettis, Former Bellator MMA Champion

The takeaway

Demetrious Johnson's upcoming induction into the UFC Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his status as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, with his former rival Sergio Pettis praising the honor as 'much needed and necessary' for the retired champion.