UFC champ Demetrious Johnson's next career step? At least 12 title defenses

UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson remains unbooked for his next title defense, but his immediate career plan is set.

Johnson (25-2-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC) first wants to defend his title between 12 and 14 times, putting a healthy amount of distance between him and Anderson Silva, the current record holder for consecutive and total UFC title defenses (10).

After that, Johnson will contemplate whether to stick around at 125 pounds, or perhaps try his hand at his former division, bantamweight.

“I’m about breaking the record, and once I get to that point, me and my coaches will sit down and decide what’s more important to us,” “Mighty Mouse” told MMAjunkie.

It’s looking very likely Johnson will tie and eclipse Silva’s record in 2017, if he keeps the pace of the past three years of his career. But of course, nothing is certain. Only this past month, Johnson lost the first round of a fight with Tim Elliott, the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 24.” Johnson looked very human before rallying to dominate the action for a unanimous-decision call.

A clean-out of the division has led to bigger renown for “Mighty Mouse” and a spot atop the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings list. It’s also invited subtle pressure on his choices.

Not long into the champ’s reign at flyweight, there was regular interest in a superfight with then-bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz to help build interest in the underdeveloped divisions. Johnson held out for a “huge pay increase.” Then, he nipped it in the bud, putting a price tag on bulking up: $2 million.

An early staple of UFC on FOX events, Johnson has yet to deliver as a pay-per-view headliner, so his financial demand has yet to be met, though he profits handsomely from each fight. For his tough outing with Elliott, he banked a disclosed $350,000 for his ninth title defense.

A dearth of viable contenders continues to plague his division, so Johnson’s path to the record appears more open than ever. Two-time opponent Joseph Benavidez hasn’t lost since a knockout defeat to Johnson in a rematch three years ago at UFC on FOX 9, but he continues to struggle in efforts to get a third title shot with the champ.

Johnson could be 32 by the time he hits his magic number, making another foray into a division with younger and heavier fighters a big competitive ask. For the right money, he would gladly do it. As an immediate condition to breaking the record, he doesn’t want to make a commitment.

It’s always fashionable to make fantasy matches, but Johnson is pragmatic about their effect on his career.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Johnson said. “Maybe so. We’ll see what happens. I have no interest. Making 125 (pounds) is not hard for me. When I fought Dominick Cruz, I came home weighing 138 pounds. I’m truly the smaller guy.”

Cruz, of course, was displaced this past Saturday by Cody Garbrandt, a 25-year-old protege of his two-time opponent and rival Urijah Faber. Not long after dethroning Cruz, Garbrandt started talking about his immediate future. He targeted a rematch with Cruz and a fight with former teammate and ex-champ T.J. Dillashaw.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.