Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson believes he represents something of a special attraction in mixed martial arts, and as such he won’t allow himself to return to fighting unless he’s fairly compensated in a way that fairly shows his worth.

Talking to TheMacLife.com earlier this week during a media event for BKFC 5, Johnson was calm but firm in his stance on his fighting future. Essentially, while he understands the nature of the business, he’d rather see athletes put on a more equal status as the promotions they fight for.

“We’ll see man If the price is right. Usually it’s not,” Johnson said. “We’ll see. I can’t blame any organisation for getting the best product for cheap. That’s like drug dealers, they’re trying to get the best product for cheap, that’s really what it is. That’s the name of the game. I know I’m one of the best products, but I ain’t cheap. There’s no reason why all of these fighters shouldn’t be making way more money than what they’re making right now.

“To me, if you fight one time in the UFC, you shouldn’t make less than a $100,000. I’m serious. You may get injured, and not able to fight the rest of that year. It depends on your situation, your wife, girlfriend, whoever, may not be able to contribute to paying the bills. Stuff like that. I think all these fighters should be making at least $100,000. You can’t have all these other sports, their minimum is half a million for the year and then you get fighters that fight one time and get paid, I don’t know, $15,000 or $20,000 and people don’t know who they are.

“We just got to do a better job with our athletes and make sure they’re taken care of instead of just being on TV. Everybody just thinks being on tv is cool, and you’re famous and you’re rich. it doesn’t work that way. You ain’t rich until your bank account says you’re rich.

“I just want the fighters to be treated with respect and paid properly. That’s it.”

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