Demetrious Johnson Reveals How Much He Earned as a Ultimate Fighting Championship Champion

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson has revealed details about his earnings during his time as a titleholder in the promotion. Speaking on the The Pivot, the legendary fighter explained that champions’ salaries during his era were lower than many fans might assume.

Johnson said that when he first became champion, his base pay was around $350,000, with relatively small increases after each victory.

“When you become champion at that time, you’re making around $350,000,” Johnson said on The Pivot podcast, as quoted by MMA Fighting. “If you win, you get another $10,000 — $360K, $370K, $380K.”

He added that the situation could change dramatically after a loss, when a fighter’s pay might drop significantly regardless of previous achievements.

“You might make $380,000, and the next time you fight and lose, you might get maybe $125,000 and $50,000. It just changes,” the former champion added.

Demetrious Johnson remains one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. During his reign in the flyweight division, he set a record with 11 consecutive title defenses — an achievement that still has not been surpassed.