Former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson is considered one of the greatest fighters in the history of promotion. He has recently revealed the earnings he made from the use of his fondness in the EA UFC video game series. People always speculate about how UFC fighters are paid, as court documents have revealed that they earn about 18 percent of the company’s revenue. In addition to fight pay and sponsorships, the earnings from their likeness spotlight another revenue stream for fighters.
The “Mighty Mouse” expressed satisfaction with the payments he received from the UFC video game. He recently posted a video on his YouTube channel and highlighted the compensation structure for fighters whose likenesses have been featured in popular video game franchises. Johnson revealed that he received his first check of $25,000 for joining the UFC video game, an amount he found satisfactory as it was basically “free money” for being a character in the game.
Johnson was happy with the amount
Demetrious said one day he was at home playing video games. That’s when he got an email that said, “Hey, since your likeness is being used a lot in video games, we’re sending a check.” He then said, “The first check I got for being in the UFC video game was $25,000. A lot of you are like, that was it? Guys, think about it, $25,000 to be in a video game. The amount to not get punched in the face, $25,000 to be in a video game just because you guys like to use me as a character. So I was very ecstatic.”
He continued to receive payments even after departure from Promotion
The method by which payouts were determined astonished Johnson, as he was influenced by players’ choices within the game. The more times his character was selected, the higher his compensation. Johnson believed this was a fair reflection of his popularity in the virtual arena. This popularity led to additional opportunities within the franchise. He was selected as the cover athlete for the icon edition of EA UFC 3, resulting in a payout of $12,500. Later, even after his departure from the UFC in 2018, his character remained a fixture in later iterations of the game.
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Despite his exit from the promotion, Johnson continued to receive payments for the use of his likeness in sports. For each iteration, including his stint as a cover athlete, Demetrious’ total earnings were approximately $75,000. He expressed gratitude for the ongoing payments, emphasizing the value of earning income without enduring the physical toll. Looking ahead, Johnson expects additional compensation for his involvement in UFC 5, expressing optimism that his popularity within the sport will continue to generate income. His revelation provides insight into an often overlooked aspect of fighter compensation in the UFC.
