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Demetrious Johnson details how the UFC would pay fighters based on their social media traffic

Demetrious Johnson details how the UFC would pay fighters based on their social media traffic Demetrious Johnson was one of the UFC’s most dominant athletes when the promotion was still finding its footing in…

Demetrious Johnson was one of the UFC’s most dominant athletes when the promotion was still finding its footing in the world of social media.

‘Mighty Mouse’ is considered by many to be one of the P4P greatest fighters in the sport’s history, scoring 11 consecutive title defenses — a UFC record that may very well stand the test of time. But despite all of his accolades, Johnson never brought home the paychecks like that of other champions during his legendary run.

In fact, Johnson’s reign over the flyweight division was so significant that the promotion has even considered shutting it down altogether.

Fortunately, that didn’t happen, but Demetrious Johnson has since found a new home in ONE Championship. There, he reigns as the promotion’s current flyweight MMA titleholder and completed the first trilogy of his career, winning back-to-back bouts against former champion Adriano Moraes.

Looking back on his time with the UFC, Johnson spoke about the promotion’s early days on social media and pushing athletes to expand their individual brands online with a series of incentives.

“When Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook first came out, the UFC would bring us to the ‘Fighter Summit’ and say, ‘You guys need to build your brand. It’s free. It costs you nothing. The more people want to see you fight, the more money you’re going to make because you’re going to make money in pay-per-view points, etc., etc., if you become a champion, if you become a partner,’” Johnson said on his YouTube channel.

“The UFC was very good about doing that. Back then they would send you laptops. Back then they’d give you incentives, I think it was like quarterly. Whoever had the most traffic in their thing. First person would get $25,000. It would go like $12,000 then $5,000, maybe $1,000. They’d give us a lot of incentives to talk about the fights and boast it, and they kept on doing it for I think a year or two. Fast forward to what it is today, I think they’ve seen the payoff of them slowly investing in telling the fighters to do that” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Demetrious Johnson recalls how hard the UFC wanted to push Cain Velasquez

The UFC held Fighter Summits between 2009 and 2011, right around the time that Cain Velasquez rose to prominence and captured the heavyweight title with a stunning first-round knockout of Brock Lesnar at UFC 121.

“I’ll never forget at the UFC Fighter Summit they pulled a picture of Cain Velasquez and were like, ‘You see this man? This man is Mexican-American. We are trying to break into the Mexican market so we want this man to do very, very well. You need to follow this man’s footsteps and try to get your community behind you. That way, it brings more eyeballs to the sport,’” Johnson said.

“I always tell my friends and my wife, any check I can get without getting punched in the face is a good check. It’s a good check because I’m getting paid for not me being in the gym, training hard, and fighting, but by me being a personal persona and going to shake some hands, doing whatever it may be.”

Demetrious Johnson reveals how much money he made from being in UFC video games: ‘It’s pretty dope’

Demetrious Johnson made a pretty nice chunk of change from the UFC’s popular series of video games. When he’s…

Demetrious Johnson made a pretty nice chunk of change from the UFC’s popular series of video games.

When he’s not busy collecting gold medals and world championships, ‘Mighty Mouse’ is an avid gamer, playing everything from old school classics like the Mega Man X series to newer stream-friendly offerings like Grand Theft Auto V, Street Fighter, and Elden Ring.

Maybe we can get him to throw on some classic Castlevania one of these days.

Aside from playing video games, Demetrious Johnson has also been featured in a few — namely the UFC series from EA Games, the studio behind Madden, EA Sports FC, Battlefield, Dead Space, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, the former UFC flyweight world champion shared insight into just how much he made by allowing his likeness to be used by the video game franchise.

“The very first check I got for being in the UFC video game was $25,000,” Johnson said. “Now, a lot of you guys are like, ‘That’s it?’ but think about this. $25,000 just to be in a video game. I don’t think Ryu or Ken have ever gotten a check for $25,000. The next one that came out was UFC 3 and for this bad boy, the next check I ended up getting was $12,500. It’s a lot lower, but I was okay with that because the timeframe of the checks were coming every year or quarter. I wasn’t too worried about it because again, it was free money coming to me.

“After my Ray Borg fight, they offered me the opportunity to be on the front cover and that’s when they came out with the Icon Edition [of the game] with me on the front. For me to be on the cover, I signed an agreement and got a whopping $10,000. It’s pretty dope.”

Demetrious Johnson was featured in UFC 4 despite no longer being signed with the promotion

By the time UFC 4 was released, Demetrious Johnson was already long gone from the UFC, having been sent to ONE Championship as part of a history-making trade between the two global combat sports organizations.

Today, Johnson still sits as the ONE flyweight MMA world champion, but that didn’t stop EA from putting him in their next game due to his immense popularity with consumers.

“I leave the UFC,” Johnson continued. “I’m not part of the company anymore, but my character is still in the game and you guys are playing as my character. Now, the next check I get in the mail is another whopping $25,000 for being in the game and it’s absolutely amazing.

“To me, it’s something where your likeness is being used and I think it’s cool that the UFC or EA keeps paying the athletes for their likeness and that people are using me.”

In total, ‘Mighty Mouse’ banked just over 70k for allowing EA and the UFC to use his likeness.

“Me being in the game from 2014 to 2024, I have made is $72,500,” Johnson said. “I think it’s amazing for me to make that kind of money without getting punched in the face.”

Alexandre Pantoja eyes ‘Dream’ fight with Demetrious Johnson after UFC 301: ‘I have all the respect for him’

Off the back of his close unanimous decision win over challenger, Steve Erceg over the course of the weekend…

Off the back of his close unanimous decision win over challenger, Steve Erceg over the course of the weekend at UFC 301, undisputed flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja has admitted he hopes to land a fight with former divisional star, Demetrious Johnson in the future.

Pantoja, the current undisputed flyweight titleholder, headlined in his first outing in his native Brazil since joining in the promotion over the course of the weekend, landing a close, albeit debated decision victory against Perth native, Erceg – successfully defending his flyweight crown for the second time since his reign began last summer.

Pantoja UFC 301 title — Mandatory Credit: Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC

As for Johnson, the former undisputed UFC flyweight champion and current ONE Championship gold holder, has still yet to return to mixed martial arts competition since he defeated Pantoja’s compatriot, Adriano Moraes in a trilogy rubber match back in May of last year.

Pantoja UFC 301 — Mandatory Credit: Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC

And sharing his thoughts on Pantoja’s victory over Erceg, Johnson, recognized as arguably the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all-time, questioned if the Brazilian likely should have actually retained his crown on home soil.

Alexandre Pantoja eyes Demetrious Johnson clash

However, off the back of Johnson’s comments, Pantoja has noted his desire to actually share the Octagon with the veteran star in the future – describing a future pairing as a “dream” matchup for him.

Adriano Moraes Demetrious Johnson ONE on Prime Video 1 1920X1280 63

“I think that’s the dream for me,” Alexandre Pantoja told MMA Fighting of a fight with Demetrious Johnson. “I don’t like to say I have dreams because I want to live everything I have in my life. I think [to] live is better than [to] dream.”

“But if I dream about something, it’s to fight with Demetrious Johnson,” Alexandre Pantoja explained. “I have all respect for him. If he don’t wan’t to fight, maybe I go to the gym and train with him, make hard sparring.”

Who wins in a potential clash: Alexandre Pantoja or Demetrious Johnson?

Israel Adesanya roasts clout-chasing bodybuilder Bradley Martyn: ‘Some people aren’t even man enough…’

Israel Adesanya established himself as one of the UFC’s greatest champions by repeatedly proving himself inside the Octagon. Bradley…

Israel Adesanya established himself as one of the UFC’s greatest champions by repeatedly proving himself inside the Octagon. Bradley Martyn, on the other hand, garnered attention from the MMA community after making outlandish claims that he could handle himself in hypothetical fights with fighters who would absolutely destroy him in a legitimate fight.

Martyn, a well-known bodybuilder, and YouTube star, began to draw the ire of fighters and fans alike last year when he began challenging mixed martial artists like Nate Diaz, Sean O’Malley, and Alex Pereira to a streetfight. While most of them laughed off his gross overconfidence, there was one fighter who was happy to make Martyn put his money where his mouth is.

Former UFC and current ONE flyweight world champion Demetrious Johnson agreed to fly out to Martyn’s home where the two could tussle in the comfort of his home in L.A.

“I look at Bradley Martyn as a gentleman who is looking for clout, and he’s saying [that he can beat me in a street fight],” Johnson said while speaking with Adesanya on a recent episode of his podcast. “And for me, I’ve been about that life. I just proved that I am about that life. For free.”

Israel Adesanya puts Bradley Martyn in his place

Though Israel Adesanya has never personally met Martyn, ‘The Last Stylebender’ revealed that the influencer was eager to get him inside the ring while the two were attending a post-fight party at Jake Paul’s house.

“When Jake Paul fought Nate Robinson, I met Jake at the hotel,” Adesanya said. “He invites me to his house. I get there and at one point, there’s a ring in the backyard. And I got word that ‘Oh, this guy’s trying to get Izzy in the ring.’ I was like, ‘Nah, I ain’t doing any of that. I’m here to have fun,’ and it was [Bradley Martyn]. I don’t know the guy, but anytime I see him with a fighter, he tries to like, ‘Oh, how would I…’

“Stop that. For me, personally, some people aren’t even man enough to wash the jocks we fight in. They’re not man enough or worthy enough to step in a ring or a cage with us.”

After seeing the 5’3″, 150-pound Demetrious Johnson defeat a 6’3″, 250-pound man at the IBJJF Pan Championships last month, Martyn may have had second thoughts about stepping on the mat with ‘Mighty Mouse.’

Joe Rogan heaps praise on ex-UFC star Demetrious Johnson after BJJ exploits: ‘He’s the best ever’

Reacting to former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson’s stunning submission grappling exploits in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,…

Reacting to former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson’s stunning submission grappling exploits in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, stalwart commentator, Joe Rogan has branded the Kentucky native likely the best ever mixed martial arts fighter to ever compete.

Johnson, a former undisputed flyweight champion under the UFC banner – still holds the record for most consecutive successive title defenses, turning in a jaw-dropping 11 straight successful defenses of his flyweight crown.

Setting his record in stunning circumstances, Johnson threw former title challenger and fellow promotional alum, Ray Borg into a fierce armbar following a suplex attempt at UFC 216 back in 2017 – forcing a final round tap.

Demetrious Johnson grapples 250-pound giant at IBJJF Pan Championships, takes home gold

And since landing the ONE Championship flyweight World Grand Prix and the promotion’s flyweight championship, Johnson has since turned his hand to submission grappling in recent months, recently taking home a rake of gold and silver medals at the IBJJF Pan championships.

Joe Rogan labels Demetrious Johnson the best ever

Reacting to footage of career flyweight, Johnson grappling with a 250 pound competitor at the event, avid grappler and Jiu-Jitsu player, Rogan – a current UFC color-commentator to boot, declared Johnson was likely the greatest mixed martial artist ever.

“How crazy is that?” Joe Rogan said on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. “‘Mighty Mouse’ (Demetrious Johnson) took on a guy who is 250 pounds in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament, and he tapped him. The dude was heavier than him by 100 pounds. The dude was enormous, the guy was so much bigger than him. Look at the size difference, look at how big that dude it – but ‘Mighty Mouse’ is so slick. There it is. And then manages to stay on top, which is really crazy. It’s crazy that he couldn’t get him off him. That’s technique.”

“He’s probably the best ever,” Rogan said of Demetrious Johnson. “In terms of just pure martial arts technique, I think the best expression of martial arts technique is ‘Mighty Mouse’.”

Do you rank Demetrious Johnson as the best fighter ever?

Demetrious Johnson calls CM Punk’s massive UFC paydays ‘a big spit in the face of all the champions’

CM Punk’s UFC run was memorable for all the wrong reasons. In 2016, the Punk, whose real name is…

CM Punk’s UFC run was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

In 2016, the Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, attempted to follow in the footsteps of Brock Lesnar, transitioning from the world of sports entertainment to mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, he failed to replicate the success of the former UFC heavyweight champion, getting absolutely manhandled by Mickey Gall in his Octagon debut at UFC 203.

Punk returned two years later only to lose a unanimous decision against Mike Jackson, though the result was ultimately overturned to a no-contest after Jackson tested positive for marijuana.

Despite failing to light up the Octagon like he often does the wrestling ring, CM Punk was heavily compensated for his pair of lackluster showings. Punk’s disclosed payout for each fight was a cool $500,000, though a report from Bloody Elbow (before being sold and stripped down to a shell of what it once was) revealed that the ‘Second City Saint’ actually banked more than a million dollars per appearance.

In the middle of a history-making run during Punk’s brief stint, former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was understandably frustrated once learning of Punk’s bloated fight purses. But instead of letting it eat away at him, ‘Mighty Mouse’ chose to use it as motivation.

“A big spit in the face of all the champions,” Johnson said of Punk’s UFC payouts on his YouTube channel. “At the end of the day, it’s more of a popularity contest that gets you the money in mixed martial arts than actual skill.

“A gentleman who is 0-1 in mixed martial arts, making $500,000 [per fight]. Obviously, he made that money because of his wrestling history. I’m not gonna lie to you guys, this put a chip on my shoulder, and a bad taste in my mouth because I was doing mixed martial arts my whole entire life and the most I ever made in the UFC was like $380,000 plus $40,000. It’s all public record” (h/t MMA Mania).

Demetrious Johnson looks back on CM Punk vs. Mike Jackson

“These guys belong in the amateur league,” Johnson said while rewatching Brooks vs. Mike Jackson. “They haven’t honed their skills enough yet in mixed martial arts to be on a platform like this. Every once in a while, you have these fights where you give people an opportunity to do something, and this is what you get. This belongs in an amateur-level fight [league]. But I bet CM Punk beats him in WWE wrestling.”

Now 37 years old, Demetrious Johnson is still one of the greatest fighters on the planet. Sent to ONE Championship as part of a historic trade in 2018, ‘Mighty Mouse’ has gone 5-1 inside the Circle, including a flyweight title-winning performance against Adriano Moraes at ONE on Prime Video 1 in August 2022. He has since successfully defended the title, closing out his trilogy with Moraes at ONE Fight Night 10 during the promotion’s critically acclaimed U.S. debut.

Recently, Johnson returned to the mat at the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championships in Florida. There, he took first place in the Master 2 featherweight division before adding a silver medal in the openweight tournament. Along the way, ‘Mighty Mouse’ earned a victory over a 6’3″, 250-pound competitor, proving that when it comes to jiu-jitsu, size truly does not matter.