Demetrious Johnson Claims Dana White Once Declared Conor McGregor the True โPound-for-Pound King
Former โUFC Flyweightโฃ Champion Demetrious Johnson revealed a candid conversation with โUFC โPresident dana White where White allegedly favoredโข Conor McGregor as the world’s top pound-for-pound โfighter,โข despite McGregor โhaving recently suffered a knockout loss. Johnson โขrecounted the exchange during a recent interview, โฃhighlightingโ White’s โฃreasoning centered on McGregor’s willingness too accept any fight.The revelationโ comes as johnson, โขwidely considered oneโ of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, continues to advocateโฃ forโค increased fighter compensation โand promotional opportunities. Johnsonโ is currently preparing to promote his own $1 million grappling tournament,the Craig Jonesโฃ Invitational,a venture he jokingly suggested makes him a better promoter than White. โขThis โtournament aims to provide โฃconsiderable payouts for grappling competitors, a stark contrast to the โฃoften-criticized payโฃ structure within โthe UFC.
Accordingโค to Johnson, the conversation took place at a โคSnoopโฃ Dogg concert. While enjoying a Bud Light, White reportedly told Johnson, โข”You’re notโ theโ best โpound-for-pound โขfighter in the world.” When Johnson asked who was, White responded, “Conor McGregorโฆ โฃYou โคknow why? As he would โfight anybody.” Johnson expressed his disbelief,โข noting McGregor had “just โgot โf– knockedโค out” at the time.
Johnsonโ believes White’s assessment was a veiled attempt to โคpersuade him to face T.J. Dillashaw,โข a then-championโฃ in a higherโ weight class. Johnson responded โขby jokingly requesting a $1 million payday forโ the bout. โDespite โฃthe circumstances, Johnson stated he “respect[s] the fact that he told me that in my โface.”
The anecdote underscores the complex relationship between fighters and promoters,and the frequently enough-strategic considerations that influenceโข public perception within the โfight world. Johnson’s current promotional efforts withโฃ the Craig โJones โคInvitational are positioned as a direct response to perceived shortcomings in the UFC’s treatmentโ ofโ athletes, offering aโค possibly โlucrative alternative for grappling specialists. The inauguralโค Craigโ Jones Invitationalโ is โscheduled forโ November 2024.