Demetrious Johnson, who retired from active competition in MMA three years ago, has kept a close eye on the happenings in the sport, hosting the MightyCast podcast where he interviews some of MMA’s hottest figures. Like many fans the world over, Demetrious Johnson, nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” is awaiting the 2026 schedule of events in the UFC.
The new year’s slate kicks off with two flagship events in as many weeks. After T-Mobile Arena in Enterprise, NV plays host to UFC 324, which takes place on Jan. 24, the next Saturday sees UFC 325 happening in Sydney, Australia. Effective with the new year, all UFC shows will be seen via Paramount Plus.
In UFC 325 on the night of Jan. 31, the main event of the evening will be a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Championship between current titleholder Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) and challenger and No. 2 contender Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) . Last April, Volkanovski took the original contest with Lopes via unanimous decision after 25 minutes of action in UFC 314’s main event.
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Demetrious Johnson Wondering About Why UFC Booked Rematch in UFC 325
Not everybody is happy about the rematch. Demetrious Johnson is perplexed as to why Lopes is being granted a second shot at the featherweight crown against the man who won it against him last spring.
During the year-end edition of the MightyCast, Johnson welcomed Lerone Murphy as his guest. Murphy, currently the No. 4 contender at 145, has yet to lose since joining the UFC’s active roster in 2019, going 9-0-1 in his first 10 promotional appearances.
Demetrious Johnson didn’t hold back in his comments regarding the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes rematch at the end of the first month of the year.
“Me having my thoughts and wondering why Diego got it over Lerone Murphy is not a part– it’s not me talking (expletive deleted) or me being upset,” Demetrious Johnson said. “It’s me questioning the thought process of the matchmakers. It’s me questioning the legitimacy of the sport of mixed martial arts.”
Demetrious Johnson’s Frustrations Continued
In addition, Demetrious Johnson aired his frustrations over certain competitors in the sport being fast-tracked to title shots while other fighters are being denied chances at belts in spite of longer winning streaks.
“Usually, when an athlete is on a win streak, he has the highest win streak in the division,” he said. “He should be the No. 1 contender, right? Was Jean Silva the No. 1 contender? Was that a No. 1 contender spot when he and Diego Lopes fought? I’m not sure. Jean Silva was on a win streak, as well, so if he beat Diego Lopes, would that [have gotten] him a fight?”
“I think in today’s mixed martial arts, people are getting rewarded a title shot, which is the most-prestigious title you can have in mixed martial arts, obviously, right?,” he continued. “People are getting this prestigious opportunity after winning one fight.”
Volkanovski vs. Lopes II a Bad Move, According to “Mighty Mouse”
Johnson believes that the fact that Diego Lopes is getting a rematch versus Volkanovski was the wrong call to make.
“You had the opportunity to fight for the [featherweight] belt, you lost it,” he said of Lopes’ defeat to Volkanovski last year. It was 4-1 [on the scorecards,] I think everybody feels comfortable saying that. I felt Alex Volkanovski won that fight in dominant fashion, then Diego Lopes goes onto beat Jean Silva, he gets rocked there. It’s a back-and-forth fight, it was a war. It’s one fight and he gets an opportunity to have another title shot.”
From there, Demetrious Johnson likened the process to something you’d see in sports entertainment.
“Are we doing this for popularity or are we doing this because somebody’s better?,” he pondered. “That’s where I like to question the legitimacy of this thing we call the sport [of MMA.] That’s why I always say on a hot take, it’s not a sport. It’s pick-and-choose. ‘I’m going to put this athlete because he has a market that I want to infiltrate. He has a market that we have not been able to [get] our footing, our roots in and we’re not really worried about that.’ That’s fine. Just let me know that.”
Final Thoughts
Demetrious Johnson has a right to air his grievances about the state of the UFC Featherweight Championship picture. There’s no rule against that. This is a free country.
At the same time, however, the UFC, just like any other company on this planet is a business. The promotion, in booking a Volkanovski vs. Lopes rematch for the end of January, did what it felt was right for business.
Perhaps, depending upon what happens on Jan. 31, a contest for the belt involving Lerone Murphy will happen later in the year. There’s one certainty: With a track record like his, Murphy has a case to challenge for the title.
