Former ONE Flyweight MMA Champion Demetrious Johnson is known as one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. The Washington native recently called time on his legendary career, and when reflecting on his past payouts from the UFC, he was shocked at what he found.
After crunching the numbers, “Mighty Mouse” was even more grateful that he made his way to ONE after competing in the American outfit.
“ONE Championship is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Johnson told MMA Fighting.
“The reason why I say that is on multiple fronts. Obviously, the [UFC antitrust] lawsuit just went preliminary [approval], and I remember somebody said you take 23 percent of whatever you made in the company, and that’s what it would be [that you earned].”
“That time frame, from 2011 all the way to 2017, I had 17 fights. I think 12 of them were world championship fights, and five of them weren’t. So, I did all the math, I did all that stuff, and I was like, ‘what the f*ck? That’s all I made?’ I was in bed last night just doing the math. I was like, ‘godd*mn, I’m f*cking gutted.’ I was just gutted.”
Johnson then related the difference in being one of the best in MMA to being one of the best in a traditional sport, and the subsequent respect they are shown on the checks they receive.
The former UFC Flyweight Champion also pointed out how it must be for those who didn’t hold the gold.
“If I was the champion, and I did 17 fights during that time frame, and I did all of the math, without the Reebok sponsorship and without the Dodge Dart and all the other sponsorships because I don’t really know those numbers, I felt very comfortable with the numbers I put there. If I made this much, and I feel a certain way, I’m curious what the next guy felt,” Johnson stated.
“Like Joseph [Benavidez], Ray Borg, John Dodson, John Moraga – the list just goes on. That was the first thing. Me and my producer talked about that this morning, I was like, ‘if I feel this way, and I was the champion, and I was winning all my fights, I don’t think anybody else in the flyweight division was making more money than me.’ So if I feel this way, imagine how those guys feel.”
Needless to say, “Mighty Mouse” was happy to be shown the respect he deserved in ONE.
“It was the best career decision I ever made,” he remarked.
“I love ONE Championship for it, and I’m still involved with ONE Championship, helping them build their brand and their fighters. I’m so glad. If I had a crystal ball and [could] foresee the future, if it was like if I beat Henry [Cejudo], my Black ass would be stuck in the UFC, still fighting tooth and nail for more money. Or if I looked into it and be like, ‘I should lose, and you’re going to go over to ONE Championship and make more money?’ We going to lose this f*cking fight. It’s OK, don’t worry about it.”
“But everything worked out the way it is. I believe God had a plan, and the way it played out is the way it should have played out. I’m truly grateful for that.”
While Johnson still showed admiration to the UFC, where he initially built his brand, it is clear he felt a lack of appreciation for not being shown the same respect as some of his peers.
Johnson was able to find that respect elsewhere, and ONE continues to work with the all-time great in a true partnership.