Demetrious Johnson Signs Eight-Fight Deal With UFC
Current UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is fresh off a win over title contender Henry Cejudo at UFC 197 and appeared on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. During his appearance on the show, Johnson revealed that he had recently signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC.
“I’ve signed a new eight-fight deal, I’m very excited to announce that,” Johnson said. “I think there’s great things to come in the future.”
Johnson (24-2-1) is currently on a ten-fight winning streak.
When asked about if he tested the free agency market, Johnson explained that he believes he belongs in the UFC.
“I think when fighters do that, they want to see what they’re worth, but at the same time, if they negotiate with the UFC, and they get what they like, there’s no point going and testing free agency,” Johnson said. “”And the thing is, even Rampage Jackson said it before, nobody treats you better than the UFC.”
“Dana White‘s like ‘dude, go out there and win your fight, and everything else will take care of itself,’,” said Johnson. “A long time ago I was in Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta’s office talking to him, and he was like Lorenzo was like, ‘you’re so f*cking dominant, we need to make people believe you can lose and tune in’. … Dana White was just like, keep on winning, Anderson Silva didn’t [become a star] til he fought Chael Sonnen and had that five round war and the rematch.”
The UFC will crown a number contender for Johnson’s title via the 24th season of the Ultimate Fighter, which premieres in August and will air on FOX Sports 1. Johnson will fight the winner of the show on December 3rd at the season finale card.
