Although UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson doesn’t have a history of beef with T.J. Dillashaw, “Mighty Mouse” said he wouldn’t be opposed to locking horns with the bantamweight champ—but only if the money is right.
During Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, per a report by MMA Fighting, Johnson described a recent run-in with Dillashaw and how the two champs talked about meeting in the Octagon for a superfight and a super payday:
I was like, ‘Hey, I told everybody that I’ll fight you. He was like, ‘You did?’ I said, ‘Yes and I told everybody we gotta get paid. I said $2 million.’ He goes, ‘Eff, yeah. I’m down with that.’
Mighty Mouse already holds wins over top-ranked UFC flyweight John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez (No. 2), Ian McCall (No. 3), John Moraga (No. 4), Ali Bagautinov (No. 6) and Chris Cariaso (No. 9). In the cases of Benavidez and McCall, he’s topped them both twice.
But because he’s essentially conquered every deserving contender at flyweight, Johnson could realistically compete in a superfight the next time he graces the Octagon.
That theory grew even stronger when seventh-ranked John Lineker failed to make weight before defeating McCall in a catchweight bout at UFC 183. The incident marked the fourth time in which Lineker didn’t make weight at flyweight. The 24-year-old Lineker also didn’t make weight at UFC on Fox 3, UFC 163 and UFC Fight Night 30.
Following UFC 183, President Dana White told Combate, per a report by Sherdog, that Lineker will have to bump up a weight class if he wants to continue fighting in the UFC.
“Lineker will never fight at flyweight again. He will have to move up to bantamweight,” White said.
After watching Lineker impressively beat six of his last seven opponents, Johnson was licking his chops for a chance to potentially fight the explosive Brazilian, per MMA Fighting:
It does suck for the flyweight division. That was the No. 1 contender. He’s been on a hot streak, destroying his opponents. Not just squeaking by. It would have made for a great fight for me and the fans.
Johnson hasn’t defended his belt since submitting Cariaso with a kimura at UFC 178. Mighty Mouse has gone unbeaten in eight fights since dropping to 125.
Dillashaw, meanwhile, has won seven of his last eight bouts, including four via KO/TKO. Dillashaw has won his only two career UFC title fights via KO from a head kick and follow-up punches.
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