MMA legend Demetrious Johnson spoke on how underpaid he felt during his hugely successful UFC tenure, adding that ONE Championship was “the best thing that’s ever happened” to him.
Despite holding the record for most consecutive title fight victories and defenses in UFC history (11), Johnson was shocked to learn how little he made at the US-based mixed arts organization between 2011 and 2017.
“ONE Championship is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The reason why I say that is on multiple fronts,” Johnson said.
“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,” he added.
Nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, Johnson departed UFC and joined ONE Championship in 2018 in a high-profile trade with Ben Askren moving the other way.
Johnson continued his remarkable career at ONE Championship, winning six out of seven fights and picking up both the ONE Flyweight MMA world title and the Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship.
The 38-year-old announced his retirement at ONE 168 in Denver earlier in September and was named by ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong as the first inductee into the new ONE Championship Hall of Fame.
