‘Bro, I Feel Bad for You’: Islam Makhachev Can’t Believe Demetrious Johnson Never Made $1 Million in the UFC

The two-division champion's reaction to Demetrious Johnson's reveals everything about how far UFC fighters’s salaries have come. 

DJ is regarded as one of the best MMA fighters in history, having done everything from defending his championship 11 times to redefining technical MMA and having a finishing rate that could embarrass fighters in heavier divisions. 

Regardless of his reputation in the sport, when Islam Makhachev found out what DJ earned during his prime years, the reaction was raw and immediate. 

Islam Makhachev Couldn’t Hide His Reaction From Demetrious Johnson

Islam Makhachev is promoting his upcoming first welterweight title defense against Ian Garry at UFC 330 this Saturday night and was in a conversation with Demetrious Johnson on his YouTube channel. 

During the conversation, DJ revealed he never even made a million in the world’s biggest MMA promotion. "You never make more than $1 million? Not in the UFC, no?" he said, visibly taken aback. 

“Bro, I feel bad now, bro,” Makhachev added. DJ burst out laughing at Makhachev's response. However, it was not intended to insult the UFC great. 

Johnson’s Earnings Report

Islam Makhachev was both shocked and in disbelief at the numbers, which revealed a lot about the system that undervalued one of the greatest champions of all time. 

Unfortunately, the reported numbers tell an even sadder story. DJ earned his highest UFC purse for the Henry Cejudo fight at UFC 227, a bout he lost, and earned $470,000, including a $380,000 base, a $40,000 fight week incentive, and a $50,000 bonus.

His total UFC earnings stand at $2.46 million, which is absolutely criminal for a fighter of such caliber and a champion who has defended his title 11 times. 

In comparison, the ex-UFC champion earned $750,000 per fight as a base salary at ONE Championship in 2018, which is higher than most of his championship outings in the UFC.  

Makhachev, on the other hand, will reportedly earn over $3 million, including the PPV numbers and guaranteed purse for the Garry fight. 

While the system has evolved for the next generation of fighters, there are still several gaps to be filled. Many fighters and critics have spoken out about the issue, causing certain systems to reform or restructure for the benefit of combatants. However, fighters like DJ have suffered so that the upcoming generation of fighters don’t have to.