Flugviktsmästaren Demetrious Johnson ligger nu på samma plats som forne mellanviktsmästaren Anderson Silva med antal raka titelförsvar i UFC, men förblir en av organisationens kanske mest underskattade fighters.
Johnson har under lång tid dominerat sin division, men får inte riktigt det erkännandet som han har hoppats på, varken i media eller på lönechecken.
Han har under en tid också fått förslag om att gå upp en viktklass för att fortsätta klättra där, men är fast besluten om att sätta ett oslagbart rekord i UFC:s flugvikt.
Johnson anser också att MMA har några av de värsta men mest hängivna fansen i någon sport.
Det här berättade Johnson via ’ESPN’:
It goes back and forth, man. MMA has the rudest, most negative, dumbest, ignorant fans in the world-but it also has the most passionate fans in the world. I hear that I should move up in weight all the time. I was at the gym the other day, and some guy was like, “Man, you need to fight [UFC lightweight champion] Conor McGregor!” I’ve been getting that for years, and I’m over it. I want to focus on my division and just smash that record. Just destroy it.
Johnson har hittills inte uttryckt sig mycket om vad han känner om UFC, men berättar nu att han inte är något fan av organisationens hypemaskin. Flugviktsmästaren vill dock inte beskylla någon för hur saker och ting har förändrats i organisationen.
Han är dock säker på att UFC skulle kunna göra honom till en större stjärna, om de vill.
At one point, the media was saying that Ronda Rousey was the greatest fighter of all time and that she could beat Floyd Mayweather [in MMA], and I was like, “Are you kidding me?” She never threw a single kick, and the public and media were saying she was the greatest mixed martial artist ever.
And I’m not taking anything away from Ronda. She’s a great athlete and did very well, but she had one move.
And the media said she was the best fighter in the world, the UFC got behind her and pushed her brand.
I’ve never been on Conan O’Brien or Jimmy Fallon. I do think the UFC can make someone a star if they really want to.
Den irländske stjärnan Conor McGregor har inte varit aktiv i UFC sedan december förra året då han tog hem lättviktsbältet från Eddie Alvarez i New York. McGregor har under snart ett år även jagat en supermatch mot forne boxningsmästaren Floyd Mayweather.
Johnson är inget fan av mediacirkusen som omfamnar detta och skulle hellre se att McGregor går ett titelförsvar.
There are two ways to answer it. My truthful answer is that I would rather see Conor defend his UFC belt and that I don’t think him going to boxing makes any sense.
I want to see him use all the skills he has, and I want to see Mayweather fight the best of his sport, like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin.
Another answer I could give would be, “F— Conor! F— Floyd! I’ll beat them both on the same night, they both suck!” … and people would eat that up way more than a man giving his honest, truthful opinion. That’s what’s sad about this sport, and social media, today.
Johnson uttrycker även sitt missnöje över skillnaderna i lön och menar att detta är den enda sporten där den bästa atleten inte får högst lön.
Hans exempel är forne WWE-stjärnan CM Punk, som nu står med 0-1 i sin MMA-karriär och fick mer betalt än de flesta andra fighters får när han gjorde sin debut.
There is not another sport in the world where you can be the best at it but not get paid the best.
I never wanted to say this before, but I don’t care anymore, and it’s just facts: When [former WWE star] CM Punk [Phil Brooks] signed with the UFC, people asked me how I felt about it, and I said, “CM Punk will probably make more money than I do on his very first fight.” And he did. I think his payout was $US500,000.
I have nothing against CM Punk, but if you look at the sheer nonsense of that, it doesn’t make sense. I know you have to look at the business standpoint, that he’s going to sell a lot of tickets, but he can’t fight! That’s why I’ve said the UFC should just try to sign that “Cash Me Ousside” girl, because she’ll talk s— and probably outsell everybody.
… A long time ago, my coach Matt Hume said, ‘Any UFC champion should clear $1 million per year.’
So say I fight twice a year and my paycheck for each is $US400,000. The UFC should send me a bonus at the end of the year to get me to $1 million, for being champion.
I know why the UFC runs the business the way they do. I know why Conor McGregor makes a base pay of $3 million. But I think I justify my pay with my skill set, and I’ve always been willing to promote my brand.
Johnson känner dock fortfarande samma kärlek för sporten i sin helhet och känner sig mer motiverad än någonsin att fortsätta sätta nya rekord. Nu siktar han mot att fördubbla antalet titelförsvar, med 2-3 matcher per år.
Han har nu 12 raka segrar i ryggen och ett record på sammanlagt 26-2.
I hope I can get to 20 (defences) I’m on pace to get two or three fights per year, and I think I’ve got five or six years left in me.
Maybe I’ll get to something like 18 and walk away from the sport-retire as champion. I think 15 to 18 title defences is something that would be in the record books forever.
Senast segrade Johnson mot Wilson Reis via armbar i tredje ronden under UFC on FOX 24.
