Demetrious Johnson has claimed that UFC has been reluctant to sign Russian and Dagestani fighters because of how dominant they are, suggesting the organization fears they would overwhelm the existing roster. All 20,000 tickets to Conor McGregor's upcoming fight sold out in four minutes. Merab Dvalishvili also revealed he broke his nose again during a grappling session with Frankie Edgar at a RAF event, though he dismissed the injury as a minor setback. Additionally, Ben Askren is set to wrestle Belal Muhammad at a RAF event on July 18.
Demetrious Johnson has publicly alleged that the UFC is deliberately avoiding signing Russian and Dagestani fighters, claiming the organization is concerned those athletes would overpower its current roster. The assertion, which has not been officially confirmed or acknowledged by the promotion, surfaced amid a cluster of news items touching on several notable names in the sport.
Johnson, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse," carries a professional record of 27-3-1 and is one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history. The 39-year-old American, who trains out of AMC Pankration, stands five-foot-three with a 66-inch reach and has maintained a striking accuracy of 54 percent throughout his career, paired with 3.35 takedowns per 15 minutes. His standing in the sport lends weight to the claim, though it remains unverified and framed here as his personal opinion rather than established fact.
Separately, former UFC welterweight Ben Askren is scheduled to compete in a wrestling match against Belal Muhammad at a RAF event on July 18. Askren, 41, holds a 19-2-0 record and trains at Roufusport. The five-foot-eleven Ohio native averaged 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes during his MMA career, making him a natural fit for a wrestling-format contest.
Muhammad, ranked sixth in the UFC welterweight division and eighth in the pound-for-pound standings, enters that matchup as one of the sport's more active competitors. The 37-year-old Roufusport product carries a 24-5-0 record, lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute, and averages 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Johnson's claim, if it gains traction, could fuel debate about UFC roster strategy and fighter access from specific regions.
- The Askren-Muhammad wrestling match puts a ranked welterweight contender in a high-profile non-MMA setting.
- A reported Conor McGregor event selling 20,000 tickets in four minutes underscores the commercial backdrop against which these roster and event decisions are being made.
