Demetrious Johnson scolds ‘boring’ critiques of Islam Makhachev’s dominant win at UFC 322

UFC legend Demetrious Johnson went off on a vocal group of fans who were critical of Islam Makhachev’s win at UFC 322.

Islam Makhachev achieved his lifelong goal to win a second UFC world championship when he dominated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision last weekend at UFC 322. Maddalena’s welterweight title reign ended in one title defense after winning the belt earlier this year.

Despite the sheer dominance of Makhachev’s performance, many casual MMA fans were critical of his showing in the Octagon at UFC 322. His win wasn’t seen as entertaining by a group of vocal fans who questioned Makhachev’s reluctance to push for a finish.

UFC legend Demetrious Johnson scolded those critics and defended Makhachev following his history-making performance.

Demetrious Johnson calls for MMA fans to appreciate Islam Makhachev’s dominance

During a recent episode of the MightyCast, Johnson reacted to harsh criticism of Makhachev after his victory at UFC 322.

“How in MMA do we get to a point where a lot of fans don’t appreciate that?” Johnson said of Makhachev. “It’s Mixed Martial Arts. I’m at the arena in Tokyo and I heard ‘Man, I heard the fight was just horrible!’. It wasn’t f—– horrible, one guy just got dominated.

“We’re in this age of Mixed Martial Arts where a guy absolutely dominates somebody, and everybody says it was horrible, it f—– sucked. I get that we want more, but you’ve got to take it for what it is. That guy was just way f—– better than the other guy, and there was nothing he could do!”

Makhachev reclaimed the top UFC pound-for-pound spot following his victory at UFC 322. He surpassed Ilia Topuria, who won his vacated lightweight belt earlier this year at UFC 317.

UFC women’s flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko also came under fire from some fans for her performance against Zhang Weili at UFC 322. While her win wasn’t viewed as an instant classic, it was a lopsided decision win over Weili.