After hearing many cries for UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson to move up in weight, “Mighty Mouse” is tired of them and does not care about changing weights.
In an interview with ESPN The Magazine, Johnson said he feels offended whenever he is asked by fans to move up.
"I do feel offended when they're like, 'Oh, you need to go up a weight class. You have no competition,'" Johnson said. "Why are you trying to take something away that I've worked so hard for? I would never go up to Usain Bolt ... and say, 'You need to run the 400-meter because you're just going to win the 100-meter anyway, and it's not fun to watch you anymore.'"
When asked why there is demand for him to move up, “Mighty Mouse” said it could be due to the fact that he does not struggle enough and that they do not want to see people be successful in their craft. Johnson has won his last 12 fights and defended his UFC title 10 consecutive times, tying the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses.
"I think a lot of people don't like to see someone succeed,” Johnson said. “They want to see someone go through adversity. But what those people don't understand is that I have been through adversity. I have been in trouble during a fight and pushed through. Yes, I have also had fights where I have put on a clinic. I guess people want to see me in more conflict, but I'm not going to put myself into that conflict unless I'm compensated more. You get concussed more fighting a bigger man. There are dangers that come with the bigger body. I could tear my labrum. I have no problem going up, but if I'm going to possibly take years off my life and career, I need to be well-compensated."
Johnson last fought on April 15, when he submitted Wilson Reis in the third round in the main event of UFC on Fox 24, winning Performance of the Night honors for the third time in his UFC career.
