Demetrious Johnson believes the UFC’s business model exposes a major contradiction in its claim to promote the best fighters in mixed martial arts, arguing that winning alone does not guarantee a fighter job security.
The former UFC flyweight champion has questioned the promotion’s handling of its roster, pointing to Michael “Venom” Page’s departure and Sean Strickland’s criticism of fighter compensation.
“Mighty Mouse” believes the UFC places entertainment value and commercial appeal above competitive results when deciding which athletes deserve to stay.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the UFC Hall of Famer challenged the MMA promotion’s longstanding emphasis on having the best talent under contract.
We’ve heard Dana White say it before: ‘We want the best of the best talents on the roster,’ and then he says they’re not exciting,” Johnson said.
In a sport where you have the best fighters fighting and they’re not exciting, you do not get rid of them because it’s a sport. If they keep on winning, then they get to stay. Me winning a fight means I get to stay … In the UFC if you keep winning, they can get rid of you if you’re not a draw, or they can think of getting rid of your division.
Demetrious Johnson Calls Out UFC’s Approach To Fighter Contracts
“Mighty Mouse” also questioned why the UFC sometimes retains fighters enduring difficult stretches while allowing successful competitors to leave.
Page, who recently signed with Misfits Boxing after his UFC departure, became a key example in Johnson’s argument. Page has said his new deal pays him twice as much as his UFC contract.
They’re hypocrites,” Johnson said. “They say one thing and do the totally opposite. I just want the UFC to try to be straightforward and honest about the product they’re trying to sell. Don’t tell me that you’re going to have the best athletes on the roster when you’re going to let the best athletes go. I rather have the UFC say, ‘We couldn’t afford him. We’re happy Michael ‘Venom’ Page is making more money at Misfits Boxing.’
For Johnson, the issue goes beyond individual contract decisions. He believes a genuine sporting structure should reward athletes for winning and give them opportunities based on their performances, rather than their ability to attract viewers.
