Brett Johns: Getting paid my worth is why I switched from UFC to Bellator

By Danny Segura and Nolan King |

Could well even 19, 2021 5: 45 pm

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Brett Johns’s swap from UFC to Bellator might perchance perhaps moreover fill come as a surprise to many, but it become once an obvious switch from his standpoint.

The susceptible Titan FC and Cage Warriors champion signed with Bellator ideal October on the heels of a a success UFC trail that had many pegging him as a power to preserve an ogle on at 135 kilos.

Johns had competed seven instances in the Las Vegas-primarily primarily based promotion, picking up 5 wins and two defeats. His exclusively two losses got right here to high contender Pedro Munhoz and fresh UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

Nevertheless when his contract with the UFC got right here to an pause, the 29-yr-old noticed Bellator as the most racy possibility his profession.

“In general, in a nutshell, we appeared on the contract after it become once done, and we appeared again at our profession with the quantity of fights that we had, the of us who we had fought, and financially issues didn’t add up in our mind,” Johns told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s Bellator 259 media day. “So we bought on a name with the UFC and tried to renegotiate our contract and they didn’t feel admire I become once worth that cash, but we knew I become once.

“We appeared on the factitious guys in the division, and there become once a pair of guys who had the same fights, I wont name specific names, but there become once a fighter who become once 5-2 corresponding to us, but I didn’t feel he had fought the caliber of opponents that I for my half did. He become once making about $20,000 more.

“So we approached the UFC with that, and they grew to turn out to be spherical and said they weren’t inviting to pay the cash, so we tested the waters of free company, and Bellator got right here up. I haven’t appeared again since.”

Even though Johns made a monetary switch in his swap to Bellator, the Welsh fighter said he is rarely any longer proper coming in the group to fill interaction a paycheck. Johns (17-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is silent certain to develop proper into a contender and have interaction the belt from fresh title holder Sergio Pettis. His quest to the title begins this Friday at Bellator 259 against Danny Sabatello (10-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

“There might be rarely such a thing as a secret what I are looking out for to total, and that’s have interaction the belt,” Johns explained. “Clearly there’s been a huge monetary tag, but I’m no longer proper coming right here to fill interaction fights and have interaction cash. Clearly I are looking out for to be the most racy on this planet.

“I’ve acquired two world titles on other organizations, and it’d be nice to add that third wrap on my waist. Honest now, eyes are on Sergio Pettis, however the title describe can alternate in a yr, yr-and-a-half of. At the minute he’s bought a target on his again, and that’s who I’m aiming for. I’m hoping a have interaction over Danny Sabatello will set me in that high 10, perhaps one more wrestle after that and we can web that Pettis wrestle.”