Demetrious Johnson is the only flyweight champion the UFC has ever known. From 2012, the year the UFC introduced its inaugural 125-pound title, to the present day, Johnson has stood alone atop the division as an unimpeachable figure, amassing scalps and title defenses with historic aplomb. But despite Johnson’s many accomplishments, the flyweight class has seemingly remained an afterthought in the grand scheme of the UFC, lacking in the big stars and big ratings that other divisions seem to cultivate.
That fact has not been lost on many of the UFC’s flyweights. More than a few flyweight contenders have spoken up over the years about the limitations they feel for the division under Johnson’s captaincy.