Booker T gave his full support to Demetrious Johnson for speaking out with his recent criticisms of the UFC.
Johnson went public with a list of grievances with the UFC last week, citing the "mistreatment and bullying" from the promotion and being pressured to accept a fight with TJ Dillashaw after agreeing to defend his UFC Flyweight Title against Ray Borg.
Booker discussed the controversy during the latest episode of his Heated Conversations podcast.
"I say, hey, if you're 100 percent about the way you feel about this situation, you speak up 100 percent of the time," he said, adding, "If you're willing to suffer the consequences no matter whatever it may be, that's what you do when you're 100 percent. And I give Demetrious Johnson the ultimate of props for sticking to his guns and saying, no, I will not do that. So many guys would say yes. So many guys would say, hey man, this is what I'm told to do. I've heard guys like a Don Cerrone say, 'I'm a team player.' Take one for the team. Me personally, when the team just got $400 [sic, $4] billion, the team can take one for itself."
Booker has praised Johnson's skill as a fighter in the past on the podcast.
"Somebody like a Demetrious Johnson, speaking up on it, not being willing to just sell out and fight a Cody Garbrandt, not sell out and fight a TJ Dillashaw, selling out is one thing," Booker said. "Selling out for the right amount of money? That's another, baby."
Johnson texted Booker while the podcast was airing, and Booker said he would make every attempt to have Johnson on a future episode to discuss the issue.
