Morning Report: Demetrious Johnson suggests UFC ‘don’t let flyweights main event’ after UFC 301

One in every of MMA’s all-time greats is conceding to his division’s actuality.

Demetrious Johnson has completed all of it within the sport and is inarguably one of the best to ever struggle at 125 kilos. “Mighty Mouse” set the all-time consecutive UFC title protection file at 11 earlier than he parted methods for ONE Championship to assert 135-pound gold. At 37, Johnson is actually semi-retired however nonetheless largely thought-about one of many absolute best fighters at current in both of his two divisions.

Johnson’s previous title was on the road at UFC 301 this previous weekend within the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil principal occasion. The hometown champion Alexandre Pantoja sought his second straight protection in opposition to Australia’s Steve Erceg. Regardless of a aggressive battle, “Cannibal” remained on high by incomes a unanimous resolution over his challenger. Nonetheless, Johnson was upset with the construct, or lack thereof, forward of the occasion.

“Not each single struggle card — not even in Bellator, PFL, ONE Championship, UFC, you title it — not each single certainly one of them are going to be absolute bangers,” Johnson mentioned on his YouTube channel. “Going into this struggle, one, I wish to begin off saying that UFC didn’t even maintain a f*cking press convention. Usually they at all times maintain a press convention for pay-per-view occasions. This one, they didn’t. So, me and my producer have been very shocked by that. Simply not a complete lot of buzz surrounding this struggle card.

“The largest factor going into this: When flyweights headline a UFC pay-per-view, I’m certainly one of ‘em, I headlined a number of UFC pay-per-views, was a champion for six years … It’s very irritating after I assume they’ve to only let the flyweights be a co-main occasion. Don’t allow us to be principal occasion as a result of we don’t drive sufficient buzz to, clearly, garner a f*cking press convention (laughs).”

UFC 301 was admittedly put in considerably of an unfair place because the follow-up act to the traditionally stacked UFC 300 occasion this previous month. It’s been broadly speculated that UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was initially in line to defend his title in opposition to the previous titlist Jamahal Hill within the Brazil return. As a substitute, they wound up atop UFC 300 after a middleweight title tilt between the champion Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya fizzled out.

Considerably scrambled, the UFC referred to as on assistance from Johnson’s fellow GOAT, Jose Aldo, to struggle in UFC 301’s co-main occasion. He defeated Jonathan Martinez through a unanimous resolution, but it surely seemingly wasn’t even sufficient to bolster intrigue from followers forward of time, at the very least based on Johnson’s private numbers. “Mighty Mouse” talked about his Aldo breakdown video forward of the struggle which had 35,000 to 36,000 views on his channel whereas his prediction did 24,000 on the time of filming his post-fight recap.

In the end, Johnson doesn’t see any motive to maintain flyweights atop a UFC PPV billing if it isn’t doing something for them.

“Let’s discuss being a flyweight and now you may have pay-per-view factors,” Johnson mentioned. “How do you anticipate a flyweight to make pay-per-view factors, as a result of if this card didn’t do over 200,000 buys, he ain’t getting sh*t. He’s going to get his base pay and that’s about it. That’s why it’s a really fascinating factor.”

After Pantoja’s championship effort at UFC 301, he’s confirmed to be a formidable foe for anybody hoping to begin their very own title reign. There have been glimmers of hope for challengers, although.

Erceg, 28, had his justifiable share of success regardless of his title shot coming after solely becoming a member of the promotion in June 2023 and profitable three fights contained in the octagon. Erceg did his justifiable share of injury all through the five-round contest, and Johnson felt “Astro Boy” would have received the struggle if it weren’t for some poor choices made late.

“He actually simply gave the struggle away by making an attempt to wrestle a man who can’t field,” Johnson mentioned of Erceg. “That is the most important factor: I believe it simply comes from expertise for Erceg — simply not having expertise of ending somebody when you’re beating the hell out of ‘em.

“Finish of the struggle, nice struggle. I simply really feel — I believe Erceg gave that struggle to Pantoja. I believe if Erceg stayed behind his jab, cease f*cking wrestling him, he would have been high quality.”

By way of UFC expertise, it was a wash in favor of the champion, who’s been within the promotion since his arrival as a part of The Final Fighter 24 (TUF) in 2016. Since then, he’s solely misplaced thrice and rides a six-fight profitable streak (12-3 in UFC, 28-5 total).

As one of many higher sport planners and strategists in MMA historical past, Johnson has shared his evaluation aplenty this previous yr on his YouTube channel. Unsurprisingly, he’s let the viewers see precisely how he turned probably the most well-rounded fighters ever, if not the most well-rounded. Taking a look at Pantoja after this current victory, the present ONE 135-pound flyweight king nonetheless sees work to be completed.

“I used to be impressed by Steve Erceg,” Johnson mentioned. “I actually thought that Alex Pantoja was going to get his again and end him. Steve Erceg was the higher striker, he did far more harm in that struggle. I believe Steve Erceg simply didn’t get going so much sooner.

“He was destroying Alex Pantoja on the ft. Alex Pantoja was bloodied up. Sure, Steve was getting hit however these photographs weren’t important sufficient to make Steve fear about his stand-up. Then Steve would shoot a double leg in opposition to the higher grappler, the higher scrambler. That’s what I felt allowed Alex Pantoja to remain within the struggle and win the struggle. After I was watching the struggle, I didn’t really feel like Alex Pantoja was the higher fighter. He’s the champ, however when you take him away from his grappling, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of him.”

Subsequent. Jose Aldo reacts to free agency, presumably skipping line to struggle Sean O’Malley after UFC 301 win

Champ. Alexandre Pantoja reacts to UFC 301 win, ‘watershed moment’ in flyweight division

Grudge. Anthony Smith responds to Alex Pereira’s $50,000 problem: ‘I’ll choke the sh*t out of him’

Enterprise. Conor McGregor could also be BKFC co-owner, however Mike Perry nonetheless needs that struggle: ‘I am my own boss’

Challenger. Steve Erceg reacts to Alexandre Pantoja loss at UFC 301: ‘I just blew it’

Title. ‘I just didn’t see it’: Execs rating Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg at UFC 301

Sudden. Drakkar Klose explains UFC 301 beef with Daniel Cormier, calls out Beneil Dariush, Jalin Turner

Acrobatics. Michel Pereira responds to UFC 301 criticism: ‘That’s the risk, but I’m the risk-taker’

Legendary. Shogun Rua introduced for 2024 UFC Hall of Fame class

$$$. UFC 301 bonuses: Michel Pereira snags further $50,000 for monster end of Ihor Potieria

UFC 301 Publish Present.

On To the Subsequent One.

MMA Preventing’s Damon Martin chats with Mike Perry.

UFC 301 Publish-Struggle Scrums.

UFC 303 Teaser.

Shogun Struggle Marathon.

Free struggle.

Invicta 8 Subs.

O’Malley teases the sparring session.

Secret sparring?

Aspinall’s first baseball sport.

Gilbert’s decade.

Behind Bangtao 2.

Rise up and bounce your Monday away, gang.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover certainly one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at present actually into. I’ll choose one of the best one alongside my day by day selection and provide you with a shoutout! It’s also possible to share within the feedback beneath — these are simply more durable to sift via generally!

Grasso in Brazil.

Rena’s return.

Group ice bathtub.

Lol.

Rattling.

R.I.P.

Headed residence.

Immortal.

Aspect-by-side.

AMAZING.

Vincenzo.

Prep.

Right here we go.

Yeesh.

Oumar Sy (9-0) vs. Antonio Trócoli (12-3); UFC Vegas 92, Could 18

I’m not going to argue in opposition to DJ on flyweight enterprise strikes. The person went via it worse than any doubtless ever will. Nonetheless, I’m glad to see any title struggle in the principle occasion. That’s the entire level. proper? UFC 301 was only a uncommon case total, although.

Thanks for studying!

Final Week’s Outcomes:

Friday: 42% of 404 whole votes answered “No” when requested, “Should Dustin Poirier retire with a win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 302?”

Thursday: 52% of 452 whole votes answered “Sure” when requested, “Do you hope to see a Justin Gaethe vs. Max Holloway rematch at some point?”

Wednesday: 73% of 514 whole votes answered “No” when requested, “If Ilia Topuria fights Max Holloway next, will the BMF title be on the line?”

Tuesday: 68% of 500 whole votes answered “Alexandre Pantoja” when requested, “Who wins this weekend?” Pantoja defeated Steve Erceg through unanimous resolution in UFC 301’s principal occasion.

Monday: 56% of 364 whole votes answered “No” when requested, “Will Colby Covington return in the summertime?”

As we speak’s exit ballot:

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