Recovering From XFL’s Estimated $60 Million Loss, Dwayne Johnson’s Misfortune Deepens as Nike Shoe Pitch Is Made by UFC Fan-Favorite

Yet to recover fully from the bad publicity caused by the XFL’s $60 million loss, co-owner Dwayne Johnson has been hit by another curveball. This time, it’s a fan-favorite UFC fighter, who has joined some of his colleagues in protest of a product offered by Johnson. The 31-year-old also went a step ahead and urged Nike, a rival, to replace Johnson’s brand.

In a scenario where Nike steps up and agrees, it can take a hit on Johnson’s credibility, financial growth, and progress toward becoming a billionaire.

Who is the UFC star who’s looking to ouster Dwayne Johnson’s shoe company?

Before revealing the identity of the UFC athlete, let’s discuss why Dwayne Johnson is getting dragged into the UFC. You may ask, has The Rock ever been a fighter in the promotion, like some of his other WWE colleagues? The answer is a resounding ‘No’. He has never fought inside the octagon. But he has a deal with the UFC, which makes it mandatory for all fighters and cornermen to walk out wearing Project Rock shoes during their fight.

In case you aren’t aware, Project Rock is a brand collaboration between Johnson and Under Armour. Several UFC past and present fighters, including Nate Diaz, have lashed out at the quality of the shoes. The latest entrant in the protest club is Max Holloway. The five-time UFC title winner and the top featherweight asked for a change of sponsorship during his chat with Full Size Run.

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The 31-year-old said that he has complaints about the company and that nothing is personal against Johnson. “The movie ‘Air’ just dropped, and you guys showed how much you went after Michael Jordan, Nike. Why don’t you guys step into a whole new realm of MMA fighters in the octagon,” he asked Nike.

Holloway asked the US-based brand to facilitate him with a similar backing to NBA legend Michael Jordan. “I know you guys paid the fines for Jordan, pay the fines for me, let me use them for walkouts,” the UFC fighter said.

“That’s All I Want”: UFC Star Makes Heartfelt Appeal to Dwayne Johnson to Prove He Has No Involvement in Controversial UFC Deal

Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson recently took notice of Michael Jordan’s blueprint for financial success, as the billionaire former athlete scored big earlier this month.

Dwayne Johnson could learn from Michael Jordan as an owner after XFL’s financial debacle

Even though Johnson is worth a significant $800 million, there are athletes who have a bigger purse than him, including his close friend LeBron James. Speaking of James, who’s currently a billionaire, Michael Jordan increased his financial gap with the 38-year-old after his latest deal last week.

Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion and is reportedly set to take home $2 billion from it and add to his existing net worth of $2 billion. He had paid $275 million in 2010 from it. So in 13 years, the Chicago Bulls legend made around 11 times his investment. There’s a lesson from that for Johnson.

Earlier this week, he seemed impressed as an investor broke down the Hornets’ deal on Twitter. Maybe the XFL co-owner has already started to pick points from the said deal. That said, he has also spoken about playing the waiting game with the XFL. 

But for now, tell us your thoughts about Holloway’s request. Sound off in the comments.

Watch This Story: The Evolution of Dwayne Johnson