Demetrious Johnson has come under severe fire after issuing a stark warning to Kayla Harrison after her title win at UFC 316 — from the Ohio star’s close teammate, Jorge Masvidal.
Co-headlining the promotion’s return to New Jersey over the weekend, Harrison competed for spoils for the first time in her Octagon stint. And making relatively light work of two-time champion Julianna Pena, Harrison landed a dominant win.
Submitting the incumbent in the dying embers of the second round, Harrison wrapped up a kimura stoppage, with just five seconds remaining on the clock. Following the moments after her win, the Olympic gold medal winner was joined in the Octagon by former American Top Team training partner, Amanda Nunes.
Set to snap her two-year retirement from action later this year, Nunes is expected to fight for her former bantamweight crown in a showdown with ex-teammate Harrison in her immediate return to action. However, Ohio native Harrison has been warned by Johnson of pursuing the pairing — claiming it would likely go bad for the ex-PFL queen.
“Kayla Harrison is calling out Amanda Nunes,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel.
“I think that’s a very, very bad idea. Yes, Kayla is a world champion, but when you look at the roster of what Amanda Nunes fought and what Kayla Harrison fought, there’s no f*cking comparison,” he added.
Johnson then went on to name some of the biggest opponents of Nunes’ career like Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, (Germaine De Randamie), Valentina Shevchenko, among others.
“Just the talent pool Amanda Nunes has fought in mixed martial arts. It blows everything that Kayla Harrison has done in her entire career, just the talent pool,” he added.
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However, this newly minted beef between Johnson and Masvidal doesn’t appear to be that new.
Johnson believes he made Masvidal’s breakout year
Involved in an infamous trade with ex-fighter Ben Askren to ONE Championship back in 2018. Johnson departed the UFC to compete in Singapore.
In the other direction went Askren, who suffered a hellacious 5-second knockout loss to Masvidal — courtesy of a historic flying knee finish. And as far as the Kentucky technician, Johnson is concerned, by putting two plus two together. Masvidal’s breakout in 2019 is likely down to his transition.
“I think everybody won,” Johnson told MMA Junkie Radio of his 2018 move.
“Not just the organizations, but I think everybody: Ben Askren, Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, myself. When I say that we all won, we’re all eating good now,” he suggested.
The former UFC champion claimed that it was the right move from the UFC’s standpoint as well as he wasn’t a top PPV seller under their banner.
“And I was also very dominant. So there was not an opportunity for somebody else to be able to make a name for themselves,” Johnson added.
