The Heisman winner dominated a social-media influencer in a chaotic MMA debut before instantly hanging up the gloves, proving his flair for the spotlight remains undefeated.
Johnny Manziel, at age 33, is "retiring'' ... again.
Only this time, it's all his idea.
A decade after his last NFL game, the legendary Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M decided to try his hand - and feet - in mixed martial arts.
Manziel dominated somebody named "Bob Menery'' (apparently a 38-year-old social-media influencer) in a Saturday night bout at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas that was stopped in the first round.
Maybe predictably, Manziel put some athleticism on display as he kicked away at his opponent before finally tackling him to the floor and then landing a series of blows to Menery's head.
Manziel appeared to be exhausted by the time the referee waved the fight off at 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
So, is "Johnny Football'' on his way to morphing into "Johnny Fighter''?
"This was good enough for one time," he said, suggesting that this was a one-off promotional gig - and maybe an event meant to simply satisfy Johnny's craving for the spotlight, for competition, and maybe for money.
Manziel later added that he "need(s) a cigarette.''
How serious was the fight? Listen to the commentators via this NSFW video, full of mostly laughter and cuss words.
Menery, an influencer with 2.8 million followers on Instagram, is 5-8 and 190. Manziel checked in at 6-0 and 205 pounds. ... and again, is not that far removed from being one of the most dynamic athletes in the history of college football.
Manziel followed up his star turn at Texas A&M by being a first-round NFL draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2014. But he lasted only two years in the NFL, throwing for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns, before Cleveland cut him during the 2016 offseason.
Manziel, who tried to extend his career by playing in minor leagues, has conceded that his personal problems and substance abuse issues contributed to his NFL failure.
Also a part of this promotional circus was a fight between former NBA players Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley, who squared off in an MMA bout in Saturday's co-main event. Stephenson defeated Beasley by first-round submission.
