We’ve always wanted to fight Dominick Cruz again. Not because there was some bad blood or I lost to him – a little bit because I lost to him – but at the same time, he was the uncrowned champ, you know. He had never lost as a champion, they stripped him of his belt from his injury. And I felt that the first fight we had, it was a rough fight for me, but I feel like I gave him his best fight to date, just trying to push him – other than TJ. TJ did an amazing job as well – but at the same time, it’s something on the back burner. Everybody’s been talking about super-fights. You’ve got RDA taking on Conor McGregor, Conor McGregor trying to make history, getting two belts. And I think for me and my team – Matt Hume and AMC – we would love to try to become a two-weight world champion. But at the same time, the money’s gotta be right, the stars have got to align… You know what my price is for the super-fights – it’s two million dollars. So if I flip over to the Dominick Cruz page and I see that two-million dollar, that seven figure, I’m gonna sign that f***ing contract. An idiot would be the only person not to sign that contract. But you know, like I said, if the contracts that and it’s a two million dollars, absolutely I’d go for that super-fight. Oh shit, I’ll put my kids through college and I will never have to fight again.
I feel that if the UFC can net-gross 600 million dollars, they can spare two million dollars of that. They wouldn’t even f***ing notice that it’s gone. So that’s my case, and I value myself at a high level and I think everybody should. And I think with all these other fighters, you know, fighting out the end of their contracts and seeing what they’re worth, I think it’s good. At the end of the day, it’s about can you pay your bills? We are all athletes and our window of opportunity to make as much money as possible is a short window. So for me to go up to a different weight-class and take on the champion – and like I said, guys, I don’t need to go to fight Dominick Cruz. I don’t need to go fight for the 135-pound belt. I don’t need to. There’s nothing in my life that says ‘arggh, you gotta do it.’ Right now I’m focused on breaking the title defenses, putting enough money away for me [so that] after I’m done fighting in mixed martial arts I can have a smooth transition into my next career.
-UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson talks to Submission Radio about wanting a super fight with Dominick Cruz, and what his demands would be to make that fight happen.
Penick’s Analysis: It’s an absolutely reasonable amount to ask for. And in fact, it’s the type of money all of the UFC’s champions should be getting. Getting to that level is something deserving of the big money reward, and for a champion like Johnson who has been lauded by the organization as one of the top pound for pound guys, it’s a level of earnings he should already be at, regardless of whether or not there’s a super fight involved. I doubt that’s the fight they go with anytime soon, but if and when they consider it, he should get his payday.
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