Should Demetrious Johnson Fight TJ Dillashaw
3. Yes – As Champion, He Should Face Whoever The UFC Decide Is Next
As fun as Conor McGregor’s 2016 was, was it really fair that he ended 2015 by winning the featherweight title, fought three times in 2016, and didn’t defend his belt? Sure there were extenuating circumstances (Rafael dos Anjos pulling from UFC 196 on short notice created the Diaz rivalry) that dictated his schedule last year, but the fact he never defended his title sticks in many throats. As a champion you have a responsibility to your division and what’s best for it. If UFC decide TJ Dillashaw is the next challenger at 125, is it fair for DJ to say no?
Being champion comes with responsibilities. While it's absolutely fair to voice displeasure with the next challenger, in many ways the best way to make your point is to fight them and beat them. While it would be untrue to claim Johnson has nothing to lose in this fight, he has a lot to gain. There is in many ways no finer way for Johnson to end his current feud with the promotion by setting the record and defeating their hand picked guy to do it.