Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson’s reacts to the winner of TUF 24 getting an automatic UFC title shot.
It was announced earlier this week that season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter would feature Flyweights. The special catch for the season is a throwback to season 4 of TUF. The winner of the show will get a guaranteed title fight against the UFC flyweight champion.
The current champion, Demetrious Johnson, was aware that the newest season would feature flyweights, but wasn’t aware of the stipulation. While streaming live on Twitch, he was given the news through his chat feed. (Starts at 4:20)
“Is that true? Well look at that. That’s interesting,” Johnson reacted when first hearing the news. “Oh wow. That’s crazy. That’s super weird. So the winner would face the champion. Joseph [Benavidez] should enter the contest!”
Johnson was caught off guard by the news. While collecting his thoughts, he realized what implications the season would have on his division.
“That’s super crazy. That’s super odd. That’s kind of fucked up for all the other guys that have been in the division for a long time. I have to read that again, that’s very odd. I’m confused a little bit, very confused.”
After finding a news article and reading it out loud to his viewers, Johnson was able to comprehend the situation, but still had questions about the season.
“That’s super interesting though because I feel like if I was in the UFC and I wasn’t the champion that I would jump on the show and get released from my contract. So what about the current flyweight contenders? No matter how amazing they perform, they’re not getting the shot.”
Mighty Mouse clarified later that the news won’t change much for him and that his single focus is on fighting.
“But, UFC does what they want. I just worry about myself. I just fight and that’s what I do.”
Johnson’s next fight takes place on April 23rd at UFC 197 against #2 contender Henry Cejudo. The card is headlined by an interim Light Heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Ovince Saint Preux.