Morning Report: Demetrious Johnson reveals shockingly low pay when he was UFC flyweight champion
Demetrious Johnson is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters of all time, but during his run with the UFC, he certainly wasn’t paid like it.
After becoming the UFC’s first-ever flyweight champion by beating Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152, Johnson went on to become one of the most accomplished fighters in promotional history, setting the record for most title defenses (11) and climbing to the top of the pound-for-pound fighter list. But despite his many accomplishments and the UFC itself dubbing him the best fighter in the world, the promotion apparently didn’t see fit to pay him like it.
During a recent live stream on his YouTube channel, prompted by Francis Ngannou’s recent departure from the UFC and Dana White’s comments about it, Johnson went in-depth on his own exit from the company and his pay during his reign as UFC flyweight champion.
“When I fought Dominick Cruz [for the bantamweight title] I was under contract, I was fighting for $14,000 [to show] and $14,000 [to win],” Johnson explained. “I lost to Cruz, so I made 14K. Then I was about fight Eddie Wineland and that didn’t go through so I fought Ian McCall in Australia, and I was on the same contract. Then, I got a new contract when I fought Ian McCall for the second time, I think I got bumped up to $20,000 and $20,000.
“I beat Ian McCall and then I fought Joseph Benavidez. Then I was still on that $20,000 and $20,000, so when I fought John Dodson I made $23,000 and $23,000. Then when I fought John Moraga, I think it was $23,000 and $23,000 so it probably went $26,000 and $26,000. Then when I fought Joseph Benavidez, I think it was $30,000 and $30,000. Then I finally got a new contract as champion, and I think it was $125,000 and $50,000, but I couldn’t get pay-per-view points. That’s where a champion makes the most bang for their buck, the pay-per-view points. Because if you get on a card with Conor McGregor and he does 2.1 million buys, you just do the f****** math. You’re going to make a s***load of money. I never got the opportunity to do that.”
Johnson has been pretty open about his issues with the UFC, which largely centered around pay and respect. Things really began to deteriorate in 2017 when the UFC wanted to book a superfight between Johnson and then bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, but Johnson felt the promotion was bullying him. And as he explained once again, the UFC’s unwillingness to open up the checkbook was a big part of the problem.
“So, when they tried to stiff-arm me into fighting T.J. Dillashaw, I was like, ‘Yeah, pay me a f****** million dollars, and I’ll do it,” Johnson said. “This is a super fight, let’s make some super money.’ They never wanted to do that. That’s why I came out with that, basically pushing back, because when does a champion have leverage? When does a champion get what is due to them? Going back to my seventh or eighth title defense, you’ve got f****** CM Punk over here who is making 500 bones and it’s his second fight in the UFC. That’s where that chip on my shoulder came from.”
Johnson’s issues with the promotion soon came to an end as, after losing his flyweight title to Henry Cejudo in 2018, Johnson was traded to ONE Championship, where he has remained ever since.
Johnson recently reclaimed the ONE flyweight title with a sensational knockout of Adriano Moraes at ONE on Prime 1, and “Mighty Mouse” will look to do it again when he faces Moraes in a trilogy bout at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5.
TOP STORIES
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Graceful exit. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua explains why now was the right time to retire: ‘I’m doing it on my terms.’
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
UFC 283 media day faceoffs.
Embedded 3.
Francis Ngannou on leaving the UFC.
A doctor explains slap fighting and why it’s so stupid.
LISTEN UP
No Bets Barred. Breaking down all the best bets at UFC 283.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Rafael Fiziev responds to the accusations lobbed at him by Phuket Top Team.
My side of the story… pic.twitter.com/ipIRgm2x73
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) January 18, 2023
Being a professional fighter is a terrible career choice. Forever dealing with stuff like this.
— michael (@bisping) January 18, 2023
Any of those would be quite fun.
3 guys said they’re down to scrap. Hope to get one locked in! Which one would you wanna see most? @iangarryMMA @Nikohybridprice @alexmoronomma
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) January 18, 2023
Mike Perry on the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury reports.
They were gonna pay me to be a stand in for the fight but I pretty much spit that money in their face when I posted the info, fyi
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 19, 2023
Goals.
Leaders of the pack . I have to take over this generation! 2 more wins I’m tied for the most wins in UFC’s MW history ! Know your history pic.twitter.com/zh2YCIFOkW
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 18, 2023
Totally normal sport.
USADA came today. Accidentally spilled my sample after going & had to wait to go again. Decided to speed the process up by taking dump to get some dribbles out for my man David but he had to watch me drop the Cosby’s off at the pool. It’s not always ’s & ’s it’s compromise.
— Matt “The Steamrolla”Frevola (@SteamRollaa) January 18, 2023
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
James Gallagher (11-2) vs. Leandro Higo (21-6); Bellator 292, March 10.
Dustin Jacoby (18-6-1) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (12-0); UFC Fight Night, April 15.
TJ Brown (17-9) vs. Bill Algeo (16-7); UFC Fight Night, April 15.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow!
EXIT POLL
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