Regardless of defending his UFC flyweight title an unprecedented 11 instances, Demetrious Johnson by no means obtained pay-per-view bonuses or incentives for being probably the most dominant champion in promotional historical past.
From September 2012 to August 2018 defeated a few of the biggest names in flyweight history, together with Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez, John Dodson, Kyoji Horiguchi, Henry Cejudo, and Ray Borg. He’s undoubtedly one of many pound-for-pound biggest of all time. Sadly, Dana White and the UFC largely ignored ‘Mighty Mouse’ and his complete division as a result of they didn’t have the drawing energy of the light-weight or gentle heavyweight fighters.
Because of this, Johnson was by no means given pay-per-view factors for his time because the flyweight champion, which is one thing that fighters throughout the board are usually entitled to as soon as they rise to the highest of their respective division.
Talking on his YouTube channel, Demetrious Johnson responded to an interview the place the UFC claims that DJ straight-up declined to obtain factors in favor of a lump-sum payout.
Johnson says that’s bullsh*t.
“I fought and fought, they particularly mentioned we don’t give PPV factors to flyweight guys, however if you happen to’re a light-weight,” Johnson mentioned. “A welterweight, a middleweight, heavyweight — I’ve been instructed that after they develop into champion, they get $500,000 flat and it went straight into their contract that they bought pay-per-view factors each single time. For me, it was by no means that.
“If I’d have gotten pay-per-view factors for each single time I defended my belt… 11 title defenses. You set me on three Conor McGregor playing cards…”When Dana White says I didn’t need pay-per-view factors, that’s not true. I requested for pay-per-view factors.”
Demetrious Johnson reacts to CM Punk’s reported purse for his two UFC appearances
Johnson additionally took exception to the truth that current WWE Superstar CM Punk obtained a extra favorable payout throughout his less-than-stellar appearances contained in the Octagon.
Per a report from Bloody Elbow (before the pillaging of the once-great site), CM Punk obtained a base wage of $500,000 for each of his fights, although it was famous that the Second Metropolis Saint truly walked away with greater than one million {dollars} for the ass-kickings he took towards Mickey Gall and Mike Jackson.
“This man is available in and will get a base wage of 500 f*cking thousand {dollars} and potential pay-per-view bonuses and different monetary incentives in his contract,” Johnson exclaimed. “I defended the f*cking belt 11 instances and I didn’t get any of this.”
Demetrious Johnson’s run within the UFC got here to an finish in 2018 after he surrendered his flyweight title to Henry Cejudo. ‘Mighty Mouse’ was then moved to ONE Championship in a historic trade that despatched Ben Askren to the UFC. Upon his arrival, Johnson rattled off three straight victories to win the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Event, setting the stage for an epic trilogy with former ONE flyweight world champion Adriano Moraes.
Johnson additionally competed in a first-of-its-kind special rules bout against Muay Thai icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon underneath the ONE banner. With alternating rounds of MMA and Muay Thai, Johnson survived the primary spherical earlier than submitting ‘The Iron Man’ within the second through RNC.
“It was one of the best choice I’ve ever made in my entire complete profession,” Johnson mentioned of his transfer to ONE. “If I might do it once more, I’d do it ten instances. And right here’s the factor — I’ve nothing towards Dana White. I’m a person who’s blissful. I’ve been profitable and I consider in my talent set.”
Johnson nonetheless sits because the reigning ONE flyweight titleholder, however he has not but determined if he’ll return to defend his title or retire from MMA altogether.
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