--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know why the UFC runs the business the…" description: "\"I know why the UFC runs the business the way they do. I know why Conor McGregor makes a base pay of $3 million. But I think I justify my pay with my sk..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/demetrious-johnson-6510_business_i-know-why-the-ufc-runs-the-business-the_2003419.jpg" --- # I know why the UFC runs the business the way they do. I… ![“I know why the UFC runs the business the way they do. I know why Conor McGregor makes a base pay of $3 million. But I think I justify my pay with my skill set, and I've always been willing to promote my brand.” quote by Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/demetrious-johnson-6510_business_i-know-why-the-ufc-runs-the-business-the_2003419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/demetrious-johnson-6510_business_i-know-why-the-ufc-runs-the-business-the_2003419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/demetrious-johnson-6510_business_i-know-why-the-ufc-runs-the-business-the_2003419.jpg) > “I know why the UFC runs the business the way they do. I know why Conor McGregor makes a base pay of $3 million. But I think I justify my pay with my skill set, and I've always been willing to promote my brand.” [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explains UFC’s financial model and his own high earnings as a result of skill and brand promotion. **In simple terms:** UFC pays well because of skill and personal branding. Key Takeaway Leverage skill and brand for higher pay. Themes sports business personal branding Mood pragmatic analytical Type business motivational When to use this quote - negotiating contracts - building personal brand - career planning - athlete sponsorship Key Concepts economics marketing skill valuation Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes balance skill and market value? - What role does personal branding play in earnings? A Different Perspective High pay may not reflect broader industry fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Conor Mcgregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conor-mcgregor/) [Justify Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify-pay-3537292/) [Know Conor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-conor-3537291/) [Know Ufc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-ufc-1028961/) [Mcgregor Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mcgregor-makes-3537290/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [UFC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc/) [Ufc Runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc-runs-1004900/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I know of Conor McGregor. This sport has evolved even from when I first entered the octagon. I think people are finding out that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-lesnar/i-know-of-conor-mcgregor-this-sport-has-evolved-even-from-when-i/) [Brock Lesnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-lesnar/) > [The UFC thinks they run off their brand, but that's not true. The UFC runs off the fighters, so hopefully, these fighters take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-covington/the-ufc-thinks-they-run-off-their-brand-but-that-s-not-true-the-ufc/) [Colby Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-covington/) > [The UFC runs a business. It's not the Dillashaw Promotion. The UFC has to think about their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-moraes/the-ufc-runs-a-business-it-s-not-the-dillashaw-promotion-the-ufc-has/) [Marlon Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-moraes/) > [And if one day,' she said, really crying now, 'you look back and you feel bad for being so angry, if you feel bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/and-if-one-day-she-said-really-crying-now-you-look-back-and-you-feel/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Look at me, man, look at me and tell me I don't know what I'm about. I'm Conor Larkin. I'm an Irishman and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/look-at-me-man-look-at-me-and-tell-me-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-about-i-m/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [I really, truly appreciate Conor McGregor's style - his fighting style and the way he talks. The reason why is because he reminds me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-really-truly-appreciate-conor-mcgregor-s-style-his-fighting-style/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I think the only person who will ever lose in a fight and still end up making a million dollars is Conor McGregor -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-think-the-only-person-who-will-ever-lose-in-a-fight-and-still-end/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I intend on being the UFC champ? Yeah, absolutely. I didn't exactly see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-be-the-ufc-champion-did-i-intend-on-being/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [Of course, we all know what UFC stands for - Undefeated Floyd's Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/of-course-we-all-know-what-ufc-stands-for-undefeated-floyd-s-champion/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [There's one thing that people will never know about Tim Duncan: Tim Duncan might know more UFC moves and more fighting moves than anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/there-s-one-thing-that-people-will-never-know-about-tim-duncan-tim/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [Fighter, father, husband - it's all the same person. I know the UFC stereotype is that we're all thugs. But I'd like people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/fighter-father-husband-it-s-all-the-same-person-i-know-the-ufc/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [I know that UFC doesn't have the best fighters, especially in the lighter weight classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/i-know-that-ufc-doesn-t-have-the-best-fighters-especially-in-the/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [I know the UFC's a big organization, the best athletes and fighters are here, so... every third or fourth month, I'm ready to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-know-the-ufc-s-a-big-organization-the-best-athletes-and-fighters/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I know I'm UFC worthy and I have the skills for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-moraes/i-know-i-m-ufc-worthy-and-i-have-the-skills-for-it/) [Marlon Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-moraes/) > [I don't know if I will take the UFC title, but I will die trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-don-t-know-if-i-will-take-the-ufc-title-but-i-will-die-trying/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) ## More by Demetrious Johnson > [If you're going to make as much money as you are, when you're fighting someone else, that's the one thing I always tell people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/if-you-re-going-to-make-as-much-money-as-you-are-when-you-re-fighting/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [If you want to see great mixed martial arts, tune in when I fight. If you want to see drama and all of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/if-you-want-to-see-great-mixed-martial-arts-tune-in-when-i-fight-if/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [When I got into this sport, I thought all I had to do was beat people and finish fights, and everything else would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/when-i-got-into-this-sport-i-thought-all-i-had-to-do-was-beat-people/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I come from one of the great coaches - Matt Hume, Brad Kertson - and my skill set is well-rounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-come-from-one-of-the-great-coaches-matt-hume-brad-kertson-and-my/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [UFC has failed to market and promote me appropriately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/ufc-has-failed-to-market-and-promote-me-appropriately/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [We've always been into juicing. It's one of the things that my wife likes to do. She's a vegetarian, so she loves to juice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/we-ve-always-been-into-juicing-it-s-one-of-the-things-that-my-wife/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [All I can do is make sure Demetrious Johnson does the best he can on fight night and goes out and wins his fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/all-i-can-do-is-make-sure-demetrious-johnson-does-the-best-he-can-on/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [They'll always find somebody for me to fight. Whether I win or lose, they'll find somebody to fight, and I'll compete. I'll make money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/they-ll-always-find-somebody-for-me-to-fight-whether-i-win-or-lose/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [For me, I don't need to juice to make weight for my fights. I just do it for the health benefits - to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/for-me-i-don-t-need-to-juice-to-make-weight-for-my-fights-i-just-do/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I don't care if my opponents are cheating or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-don-t-care-if-my-opponents-are-cheating-or-not/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I'd rather have head stomps and kicks to the head on the ground rather than elbows because I think to kick someone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-d-rather-have-head-stomps-and-kicks-to-the-head-on-the-ground/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [Each time I'm training and sparring, I'm always pushing myself to submit my training partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/each-time-i-m-training-and-sparring-i-m-always-pushing-myself-to/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I want the whole world to watch me fight. But you know if people are just tuning in to hear me trash talk are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-want-the-whole-world-to-watch-me-fight-but-you-know-if-people-are/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [You're starting to see a lot of fighters, like, 'We want more money so we can be able to retire eventually,' instead of, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/you-re-starting-to-see-a-lot-of-fighters-like-we-want-more-money-so/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I never cared who I was going to fight because, at the end of the day, it makes no difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-never-cared-who-i-was-going-to-fight-because-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) [Explore all 99 Demetrious Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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