Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has never been shy about sharing his honest opinion on the UFC and its business practices.
Over the years, his relationship with the promotion and UFC president Dana White has remained tense, especially with Dana White.
This time, however, Demetrious Johnson’s criticism has sparked major discussion across the MMA world, and many fans believe he is absolutely right.
Johnson recently blasted the UFC for booking a featherweight title rematch between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes at UFC 325.
According to Johnson, this decision once again proves that the UFC prioritizes profit and popularity over sporting merit.
This controversy has reignited the debate about whether the UFC operates as a true sport or simply as a business focused on ticket sales and pay-per-view numbers.
Demetrious Johnson’s Long-Standing Issues With the UFC
Demetrious Johnson is widely considered one of the most technically complete fighters in MMA history.
Despite his dominance as a champion, Johnson often felt undervalued by the UFC during his time with the promotion.
He has openly spoken about how pay, promotion, and matchmaking decisions are driven more by marketability than by fairness.
Johnson’s criticism is not new. Even after leaving the UFC, he has consistently highlighted what he believes are flawed decision-making processes inside the organization.
This latest comment regarding the featherweight title picture is just another example of his long-running frustration.
The Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes Rematch Controversy
The UFC’s decision to book Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 at UFC 325 has divided the fanbase.
Many fans clearly remember their first title fight, where Volkanovski put on a strong performance and secured a convincing win over Lopes.
According to Demetrious Johnson, the result of that fight left little room for debate.
Volkanovski was the better fighter on the night, controlled the fight, and walked away as the clear winner. In Johnson’s view, that should have ended Diego Lopes’ immediate title ambitions.
Instead, the UFC surprised many by granting Lopes another title shot, bypassing several deserving contenders in the featherweight division.
“Everyone Knows Volkanovski Won” – Johnson’s Statement
Demetrious Johnson pointed out that the majority of MMA fans and analysts agree on one thing: Volkanovski clearly won the first fight against Diego Lopes.
There was no controversial decision, no draw, and no unfinished business that demanded an immediate rematch.
Johnson questioned why the UFC would fast-track Lopes back into a title fight when the outcome of the first bout was decisive.
From a sporting perspective, immediate rematches are usually justified only when fights are extremely close or end in controversy. That was not the case here.
Ignoring Undefeated Contenders in the Featherweight Division
One of Johnson’s biggest criticisms focused on the fighters who were ignored in favor of Diego Lopes.
The UFC featherweight division is stacked with elite talent, including undefeated contenders who have been patiently climbing the rankings.
Two names Johnson indirectly referenced are:
- Movsar Evloev – An undefeated fighter with a flawless professional record who has beaten multiple top-level opponents.
- Lerone Murphy – Another unbeaten fighter who continues to improve and has delivered strong performances inside the Octagon.
According to Johnson, Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy have done everything right. They have stayed active, beaten tough competition, and remained undefeated. Yet, they were passed over for a title opportunity.
Why Diego Lopes Got the Title Shot Again
Demetrious Johnson made it very clear why he believes Diego Lopes was given another chance at the featherweight title. In his view, it has nothing to do with fairness or rankings.
Johnson believes the UFC chose Diego Lopes because of popularity and market value. Lopes has built a strong fanbase and delivers exciting performances that attract attention.
From a business standpoint, he is easier to promote and can help sell tickets and pay-per-views.
Johnson acknowledged that Diego Lopes is an exciting fighter and praised his recent performance against Jean Silva, where Lopes scored a spectacular knockout.
However, Johnson strongly disagreed with the idea that one highlight-reel knockout should outweigh the achievements of undefeated contenders.
“One Knockout Doesn’t Erase the Line” – Johnson’s Argument
Johnson emphasized that impressively beating Jean Silva does not justify skipping over multiple deserving fighters.
In a legitimate sport, contenders earn title shots through consistent wins against top competition, not just popularity or viral moments.
He argued that if one flashy knockout becomes the main requirement for a title shot, then the rankings system loses its meaning entirely.
Fighters who grind their way through tough opponents, often winning by decision, are punished for not being flashy enough.
UFC: A Sport or a Business?
One of the strongest statements made by Demetrious Johnson was his claim that the UFC is not a sport, but a business firm. According to Johnson, the organization makes decisions based on revenue, not fairness.
This statement resonated with many fans, especially those who have followed the UFC for years.
Time and again, popular fighters have received title shots despite questionable resumes, while less marketable but highly skilled fighters are forced to wait.
Johnson believes this approach damages the credibility of the sport and demotivates fighters who dedicate their lives to climbing the rankings.
Dana White and the UFC’s Business Model
The UFC, under Dana White’s leadership, has always been open about being a business first. The promotion focuses on maximizing revenue through big fights, star power, and global expansion.
From a business perspective, booking Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes makes sense. Lopes has momentum, a growing fanbase, and the ability to create excitement.
However, Johnson argues that this mindset sacrifices sporting integrity.
He believes that fighters should not have to rely on popularity alone to earn career-defining opportunities.
Fan Reactions Support Demetrious Johnson
Following Johnson’s comments, a large section of the MMA community supported his stance. Many fans took to social media to express frustration over the featherweight title situation.
Common fan arguments include:
- Undefeated fighters deserve priority.
- Immediate rematches should be rare and justified.
- Rankings should matter.
- Fighters should not be punished for winning without knockouts.
The backlash suggests that Johnson’s words struck a nerve within the MMA world.
The Bigger Problem With UFC Matchmaking
This situation highlights a larger issue within the UFC’s matchmaking philosophy. When popularity outweighs merit, fighters may feel pressured to take unnecessary risks just to stand out.
Johnson warned that this could lead to reckless fighting, shorter careers, and unfair treatment of disciplined fighters who focus on winning rather than entertaining.
In the long run, this approach could hurt the quality of competition and the trust fans place in the sport.
Demetrious Johnson’s Legacy of Speaking the Truth
Demetrious Johnson has always been known for his honesty. Unlike many fighters who avoid criticizing the UFC, Johnson speaks openly, even when it makes him unpopular with promoters.
His latest comments once again show why many fans respect him. He is not attacking Diego Lopes personally. Instead, he is criticizing a system that, in his opinion, rewards popularity over performance.
Is Demetrious Johnson Right This Time?
Looking at the situation objectively, it is hard to dismiss Johnson’s argument. Volkanovski clearly won the first fight. Undefeated contenders exist. Rankings were ignored. Popularity played a major role.
While the UFC has every right to make business decisions, fans and fighters alike expect some level of fairness. When that balance tilts too far toward profit, criticism becomes inevitable.
Final Thoughts
Demetrious Johnson’s comments on the UFC’s featherweight title decision have reopened an uncomfortable conversation about fairness in MMA.
By giving Diego Lopes another title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC has once again shown that business interests often come first.
Whether fans agree or disagree, one thing is clear: this debate is not going away anytime soon.
As long as popularity outweighs merit, voices like Demetrious Johnson will continue to call out what they see as UFC stupidity.
And this time, many believe he is absolutely right.