“CM Punk comes in and gets base salary of $500K!” Demetrious Johnson calls out Dana White over refusing to pay flyweight champion PPV points

The topic of UFC Fighter pay remains a long-time debate among the MMA community. The UFC CEO Dana White has brushed off negative comments about it for years. Now, former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson exposed the CEO’s lies. Also, he detailed how the UFC undermined his earning potential.

Firstly, Demetrious Johnson addressed the UFC’s stand regarding not providing flyweight champions with PPV points and affirmed it was true. As such, ‘Mighty Mouse’ exposed Dana White lying about the PPV points. The revelation shocked the MMA community. Here is what Johnson said:

I fought and fought, they specifically said we don’t give Pay-per-view points to flyweight guys...When Dana White says I didn’t want PPV points, that’s not true. I asked for PPV points... Look at CM Punk. This guy comes in and gets a base salary of 500 fu****g dollars and PPV bonuses... I defended the f***ing belt 8 times I didn’t even get this.

Demetrious Johnson via YT-Mighty Gaming

Demetrious Johnson agitated upon the fact he didn’t get enough compared to what the UFC provided CM Punk. However, he didn’t hold a grudge with the UFC or Dana White. Nonetheless, he wondered about the scenario where the UFC offered him PPV points and he featured in three of Conor McGregor’s fight cards. It would’ve served the former champion lavishly, given he was one of the long-reigning champions. The former 125lbs champion defended his title eleven times.

After disagreements, the UFC traded Demetrious Johnson for Ben Askren with the One Championship. Johnson called this ‘the best decision he has ever made’ in hindsight. Currently, he reigns as the One FC flyweight champion. Also, ‘Mighty Mouse’ confirmed One FC provided him with better pay than the UFC.

Demetrious Johnson reveals his payments from the UFC

Demetrious Johnson is one of the greatest fighters of all time. But, for some reason, the flyweight champion never got his flowers from the UFC. Only after his move to One FC did people notice how detrimental the UFC treated DJ. Now, amidst Johnson’s recent claims about UFC pay, his previous statements about his paychecks have come to light.

In an old live-streaming session, Demetrious Johnson detailed his payment structure with the UFC. He started with his fight against Dominic Cruz and went all the way up to attaining his championship contract. Here is what he said:

I was under contract, I was fighting for $14,000 [to show] and $14,000 [to win]...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.

Demetrious Johnson via MMA Fighting

Considering Demetrious Johnson racked up eleven title defenses without PPV points, his earning potential was severely undermined. To this day, criticisms still exist regarding UFC fighter pay. Even recently, the antitrust lawsuit opposing the fight promotion brought this issue to the limelight. However, the parties settled even before the case stood trial on the court. As such, the pay debate continues.

In case you missed it:

• “Got my GOAT butt naked” – Conor McGregor’s ‘nude’ scene in Hollywood debut Road House catches fight fans off-guard
• “So my wife had a C-Section,” Dana White changed date of son’s birth because of Chuck Liddell’s fight

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