Dana is dissatisfied with Johnson's choice (Photo: Reproduction Youtube-theherd)
The relationship between Dana White, president of the UFC, and Demetrious Johnson, the organization's flyweight champion, is definitely shaken. The friction between the two started to get strong after DJ refused to face TJ Dillashaw in his next title defense, which could place him as the greatest champion in UFC history, with 11 consecutive defenses, leaving Anderson Silva, with ten, backwards.
In addition to refusing the duel against Dillashaw, Johnson asked to face Ray Borg, number 3 in the flyweight division. Annoyed, Dana admitted giving in to the champion's request, but mocked the importance of the fight.
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“You want Ray Borg, we'll give you Ray Borg. I'm sure fans will be demanding it, and ticket sales will sell out and pay per views will break records. (…) I'm not excited about Demetrious Johnson. You are the best pound-for-pound in the world, TJ Dillashaw challenges you – one of the best in the world, former world champion – and you rule out the fight, and say: “I’m not going to do that. I want Ray Borg.” Who wouldn't want to see Demetrious Johnson x TJ Dillashaw? Dillashaw called me every day: “I'm cutting weight. I'm cutting weight. I'm on a diet. I'm training. I'm cutting weight. Did I get the fight? Did I pick up the fight?” You expect the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world to say, “Let’s do this,” said Dana, in an interview with the “MMA Junkie” website.
Dana also defended himself against Johnson's accusation, who stated that the president threatened to end the flyweight division. According to the director, the idea really existed, but it was in another context. Today, according to White, he is the biggest defender of the lightest male category in Ultimate.
“What I told him was: A few years ago, we actually talked about getting rid of the division. But there was never a threat to him: “Oh, let's get rid of the division.” That was complete sh*t, and 90% of what he said was complete sh*t. I never told him, “Hey, if you don’t do this, we’re going to get rid of your division.” I built The Ultimate Fighter around you to try to build you. He said he wasn't promoted. Who defended this weight division more than me? I used to get up in front of the (media) at the press conference and say, “This kid is amazing. He's unbelievable. That’s what he is…” I'm not saying now that it isn't. But you had the opportunity to actually go there… TJ Dillashaw called you. He's one of the best in the world, and he's a former world champion. A lot of people think he won the fight against (Dominick) Cruz. And you say, “I don’t want to fight this guy. I want this one (Ray Borg), I want to fight number 5 or number 6”, said Dana, who concluded by saying that he still doesn't know when the duel between Johnson and Borg will take place, but that he doesn't expect the event to be a success.
“You’re about to break the record and do all these things, and you want $2 million and all these other things. I'm not thrilled about it, but guess what? You want Ray Borg, we'll give you Ray Borg. But I don’t want to hear any sh*t if it’s not the successful event you hope it will be.”
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