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Demetrious Johnson was perhaps the most successful bantamweight fighter in the history of UFC. ‘Mighty Mouse’ defended his belt 11 times. One would think, he’d be one of the most respected men in the organization, right? However, that wasn’t the case.

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After making the switch to ONE Championship, Johnson shared how he had faced a lot of disrespect during his time in the UFC.

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In a conversation with Joe Rogan on his podcast, the fighter revealed how UFC boss Dana White put him on the edge. Johnson revealed he had a much quieter time at ONE and felt mutual respect, which was absent in the UFC. The legend sat down with Joe Rogan to talk about his struggles, despite achieving all he could.

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Demetrious Johnson faced a bad time in the UFC

Demetrious Johnson was widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound MMA fighters of all time. ‘Mighty Mouse’ had dominated the UFC scene by staying at the very top of his division for a long time. But, despite his achievements, the fighter faced a lot of tension from the boss of the organization.

In episode #131 of the JRE MMA Show, Demetrious Johnson discussed how he felt about the relationship between him and Dana White.

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Joe Rogan asked, “Is there like a more hostile relationship with the UFC when you were there vs One FC?”

READ MORE: Joe Rogan Asked to Answer on His Podcast by Demetrious Johnson for UFC-ONE Championship Trading Insinuation – ‘You Kinda Convinced Him, “Who Gives a S**t”’

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The 36-year-old, without hesitation, replied, “1000%”

He further explained how he came to that conclusion. “At the time, when I was going through my title reign… They were talking about getting rid of the division.”

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“So, there’s always tension, because they’re tryna get rid of the division.”

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DJ explained that during the time of his reign, the flyweight division was facing the threat of being dismantled.

“So, imagine that… You’re killing it. You’re f***ing, just destroying everybody in the division..” He added “Then, the CEO or the boss goes… ‘I’mma get rid of that f***ing division, cause it’s not bringing any money”

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Johnson said, referring to what Dana White felt about the flyweight championship during his reign.

“How do you think that’s going to make you feel?” asked DJ.

The former ‘Fear Factor’ host was short of words, but answered honestly. “Not good.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Joe Rogan takes back all he said before Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev

Johnson confessed how he felt about the hostile atmosphere he faced at the UFC. Despite arguably being the greatest flyweight fighter in the organization.

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Vulligundam Ruthwik

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Vullingundam Ruthwik is a combat sports writer at EssentiallySports who brings a fact-based and eagle-eyed approach to his coverage of UFC and WWE events. He is a graduate of Journalism from a premier university. Ruthwik's passion for sports writing shines through in his coverage of live UFC events, including 283 and 281. With his insightful analysis and dedication to providing accurate reporting, he has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of combat sports. After a stint as a UFC writer, he switched divisions to WWE. His coverage of the crossover phenomenon Brock Lesnar was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his ability to provide unique perspectives on some of the biggest names in sports entertainment. Even in his free time, Ruthwik remains immersed in the world of sports and content creation, always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with fans

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Rohini Kottu

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