Demetrious Johnson, destined for the UFC Hall of Fame, expresses his view that the UFC’s leadership compromised its trustworthiness through their recent announcement concerning Diego Lopes.
The reigning UFC featherweight titleholder, Alexander Volkanovski, is scheduled for a somewhat swift rematch against Diego Lopes as the headliner for UFC 325, taking place in Sydney next month. Volkanovski had previously secured the then-empty featherweight championship by defeating Lopes via unanimous decision at UFC 314 earlier in the year.
However, subsequent to Lopes’s comeback victory over Jean Silva at Noche UFC, the UFC’s bout organizers sanctioned Lopes to bypass contenders like Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy, and others to receive another championship opportunity. The revelation of the UFC 325 matchup caused widespread bewilderment among spectators and commentators, given that the initial encounter between Volkanovski and Lopes had been significantly one-sided.
A prominent figure in UFC history escalated the criticism, lambasting the UFC’s fight selectors and alleging that they were damaging the sport’s integrity.
Demetrious Johnson Criticizes UFC’s Choice Regarding Diego Lopes’s Championship Bid
Through a recent broadcast uploaded to his YouTube platform, the legendary UFC fighter Demetrious Johnson offered his perspective on the controversy surrounding the second Volkanovski versus Lopes bout.
“You were given a chance to compete for the championship. You were defeated. The score was four rounds to one. I believe everyone would agree with that assessment,” Johnson remarked concerning Lopes. “My perception was that Alex Volkanovski convincingly secured victory in that contest. Subsequently, Diego Lopes proceeds to defeat Jean Silva. He experienced significant impact in that match. It was a contested battle. It was a fierce struggle. It’s a single victory, yet he receives the chance for an additional title attempt. Is this now due to his high popularity? Is it because he generates substantial ticket sales? I am uncertain.
“However, are we pursuing this for the sake of public appeal, or are we doing it because an individual demonstrates superior skill? This is where I find myself doubting the authenticity of this activity we label as a ‘sport.’ That is why I consistently state it isn’t a sport. It involves selection and favoritism. “‘I intend to promote this competitor because they tap into a demographic I wish to penetrate, they represent a segment we haven’t successfully established ourselves within, and we aren’t particularly concerned about that’,” Johnson further elaborated regarding Lopes. “That’s acceptable. Simply make that clear to me.” (Reference: MMA Junkie)
