Johnson: UFC can shut down 125-lb division if it doesn't want to negotiate

Warning: Story contains coarse language

The UFC's threats are bouncing right off of "Mighty Mouse."

Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson appeared on "The MMA Hour" to elaborate on a fiery public statement that he released Monday concerning backstage issues with the promotion. UFC president Dana White recently questioned Johnson's hesitance to sign on for a fight with former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw and Johnson alleges White told him he would shut down the 125-lb division if he didn't accept.

"I said close the mother f---ing division then," Johnson said, according to Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting. "Because if somebody is willing to do that, that just shows you that they have no interest whatsoever of working with the champion.

"I never missed weight, always showed up on time, did all of my interviews on fight week, traveled to Australia in coach two times for the flyweight division. I've done a lot."

Johnson's willingness to see his division disappear is significant due to the fact that he's on the verge of breaking the UFC record for consecutive successful title defenses at 11. Should the UFC not be bluffing, Johnson can kiss that accolade goodbye.

The 30-year-old Johnson has been campaigning for the UFC to give him a seven-figure payday and to match him up with either Sergio Pettis or Ray Borg, two top-10 ranked flyweights. Should he decide to fight Dillashaw, it will be of his own volition, not due to any sort of ultimatum.

"I respect the UFC saying, 'Hey, we're gonna close your f---ing division, take TJ to fight,'" Johnson said. "Sounds good. Here's my stance: Go ahead and f---ing close it.

"Like I respect them being honest and straightforward with it. But don't expect me to be, 'OK, I'll take the TJ fight if you're gonna close my division.' No, no, no, no. That's not how it works. What have I been doing the last five years in this division? Trying to make it the best division in the world."