UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev submitted Demetrious Johnson with a D'arce choke during a recent training session, in a high-profile grappling exchange between the two stars.
According to the footage described, Chimaev used a front headlock to transition into the D'arce, forcing the former UFC flyweight champion to tap after approximately 47 seconds. One voice in the room can be heard calling out, "47 seconds!" as the sequence ends.
Johnson, who has transitioned to a grappling career and retired from MMA, kept the mood light on the mats. At one point he asked, "Did Arman [Tsarukyan] tell you I was good?" and followed up with, "Arman tell you I was strong?" Chimaev replied, "Maybe [strong] for him, yeah," drawing laughs in the room.
Johnson also joked about his tactical choices in the roll, saying, "You guys are like ‘man, why did he pull guard?’" before adding, "Do you think I’m going to shoot a f*cking takedown on Khamzat Chimaev?"
Chimaev is described as the UFC middleweight champion at 185 pounds and is scheduled to defend his title against Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event on May 9. Johnson, recently announced as a member of the UFC Hall of Fame class of 2026, continues to test himself in high-level grappling despite his MMA retirement.
