What would happen if you took blow after blow to the head for over a decade? Most people would assume the obvious—concussions, long-term neurological issues, or even permanent damage. But what if I told you the opposite might be true? Enter Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, a legend in the UFC, who has some surprising insights on this very topic.
Johnson, who has been a professional fighter for years, has been tracking his brain function since 2012, keeping a close eye on the effects of his intense career inside the Octagon. And what he recently revealed is nothing short of a miracle. Despite the years of punishing hits, Johnson claims his brain is functioning better than ever. Yes, you read that right—he’s been taking headshots for over a decade and his neurological health has somehow improved!
In a recent interview, “Mighty Mouse” shared his experience, leaving fans and experts alike scratching their heads. How could someone who’s been through countless wars in the cage walk away with sharper brain function? Is it just luck, genetics, or something more? Johnson’s revelations flip the script on everything we think we know about the dangers of combat sports, and his story might just change the way we think about the long-term effects of getting hit in the head.
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So, let’s dive in—what’s the secret behind Demetrious Johnson’s incredible brain health? And is there more to this story than meets the eye? Stay tuned, because this one’s a game-changer!
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 5 Do you think Demetrious Johnson’s decision to retire is influenced more by health concerns or career achievements? Health concerns Career achievements Both equally Neither Should Tony Ferguson come out of semi-retirement to fight Nick Diaz at UFC 311? Absolutely No way Only if he’s 100 ready It’s a risky move Whats your Perspective on: Does Demetrius Johnson’s CTE scare make you rethink the risks fighters take for our entertainment? Have an interesting take? Join The Debate Do you think Robert Whittaker’s verdict on Khamzat Chimaev is justified? Absolutely No way Maybe I need to see the fight first Do you agree with Dana White’s change of heart on UFC fights going to decision? Absolutely Not at all Depends on the fight Dana’s just being Dana
Demetrius Johnson reveals that his IQ level has increased
‘Mighty Mouse’ has been scrutinizing his brain for more than a decade now with the help of scientists. He graciously gave himself as a volunteer and participated in a scientific study where they were studying the brain and health of professional combat sports athletes. He has had an amazing MMA career and even though was reigning in this combat sports world, brain health was still a concern for him as it is for other fighters.
However, after 10 years of examination, he received good news. He said, “I was part of a brain study for fighters from 2012 up until 2023, leading up to my second fight with Adriano. The Cleveland lab was researching how a fighter’s brain changes throughout their career, and what kinds of deteriorations occur. Every year, I underwent these evaluations.”
After explaining what was being researched, he talked about the results. ‘Mighty Mouse’ said, “And so, after 11 years of observations, a doctor approached me with all the scans and said, ‘Demetrius, throughout your entire career, your brain hasn’t deteriorated one bit. You’ve gotten smarter, your speech articulation has improved. You’re lucky, the hits haven’t changed your brain for the worse at all.”
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However, he also added that with age a person’s eloquence and articulation increase because of experience and nourishment of intelligence. However, research has also suggested that continuous trauma to the head and concussion have been associated with slower processing speed and smaller brain volumes. So clearly, the MMA fighter contributed to a groundbreaking discovery. However, some fighters in the promotion still get scared about deteriorating brain health after retirement. The same thing was discussed by Ronda Rousey as well.
Ronda Rousey was scared for her brain health
The rise and prevalence of female fighters at UFC can be credited to Ronda Rousey. The Hall of Famer was the first huge MMA and UFC superstar and has been training in combat sports from a very young age. ‘Rowdy’ is not just a fighter, but also a coach, so she knows everything about combat. However, her path to success was not a smooth ride and she like many other fights became a victim of health issues due to a concussion.
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Her problems with concussion had started way before her debut in MMA. She had participated and fought for 10 years in Olympic-level judo and even won a medal. ‘Rowdy’ experienced several symptoms that indicated how grave her concussion issues were. Rousey said, in Cage Side Seats “I had a very rich concussion history before I even started in MMA. For my entire judo career, which was like 10 years, I was experiencing concussion symptoms more often than not for an entire decade.”
She also revealed that if someone gets a concussion, then getting another concussion becomes more frequent. She was at a stage where she was seeing stars as soon as the opponent hit her head and health problems were piling up. She also revealed that the fight against Holly Holm was a tough one because of the symptoms of concussion that she was having. However, with the news that was given by DJ, there might be some hope for future combat sports athletes. Do you think that concussions can be prevented for athletes who are into combat sports?
“Brain Hasn’t Deteriorated One Bit”
