During the recent UFC Fight Night 271 event on March 28, former UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson was announced as the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame.
“Mighty Mouse” will be inducted into the Modern Wing of the Hall, joining the former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominic Cruz who will also be inducted during the 2026 International Fight Week. Johnson was present at UFC Fight Night 271 to celebrate the induction along with his family, and during a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Johnson was asked if he got the chance to catch up with Dana White, to which he said no. However, he did get the chance to catch up Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s Chief Business Officer, who Johnson credits as one of the main reasons why he is going into the Hall of Fame to begin with.
“I said, ‘I appreciate you letting me out of my contract. I really do.’ At the end of the day, the UFC could have said no. They could have said ‘Your black a** ain’t going nowhere. You owe us four more fights and you’re going to fight those fights.’ They let me get out of my contract, and when I went to ONE Championship, I made great money. I truly believe if I had never gone to ONE Championship, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today. I have to be grateful. I have to show respect.”
Johnson believes that when you’re straight and honest with someone that you get to see their true colors, and because he was honest and respectful with how he interacted with Campbell, Campbell in return congratulated him for both his UFC Hall of Fame induction, and his success in ONE Championship. With the induction, Johnson becomes the first fighter to be inducted into both the UFC and ONE Championship Hall of Fame.
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