Demetrious Johnson teaches Georges St-Pierre flying armbar mechanics

Two of mixed martial arts' most celebrated former champions linked up recently when Demetrious Johnson walked Georges St-Pierre through the mechanics of his signature flying armbar, offering a rare glimpse into the grappling exchange between two all-time greats.

Johnson, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse," carries a professional record of 27-3-1 and is widely regarded as one of the most technically refined fighters the sport has produced. The 39-year-old American, who trains out of AMC Pankration, stands five-foot-three with a 66-inch reach — a compact frame that has never stopped him from executing some of the most spectacular submission finishes in UFC history. His striking accuracy sits at 54 percent, and throughout his career he averaged 3.43 significant strikes per minute alongside 3.35 takedowns per 15 minutes.

St-Pierre, the Canadian legend known as "Rush," brings his own extraordinary pedigree to the mat. Now 45 and based out of Tristar Gym in Montreal, GSP holds a 26-2-0 record built on a combination of elite wrestling and sharp, accurate striking. His 76-inch reach — notable for a fighter standing five-foot-eleven at 180 cm — helped him control distance throughout a dominant career. He averaged 4.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and landed strikes at a 53 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most complete fighters of his generation.

Why it matters

• The session highlights how elite retired champions continue to sharpen and share technical knowledge long after their competitive peaks.
• Johnson's flying armbar has become a benchmark technique in submission grappling instruction, and passing it directly to a fighter of St-Pierre's caliber underscores its complexity.
• The cross-training exchange between AMC Pankration and Tristar Gym lineages reflects the increasingly collaborative nature of high-level MMA coaching.