This UFC Shanghai winner was in desperate need of his result at Saturday’s event.
The promotion’s latest UFC Fight Night took place in China and featured a number of notable performances, including Johnny Walker’s win over Zhang Mingyang in the main event and Aljamain Sterling’s one-sided victory over Brian Ortega.
UFC Shanghai’s undercard also wasn’t short on strong displays, none more so than Charles Johnson’s come-from-behind finish against the highly touted Lone’er Kavanagh to earn a Performance of the Night bonus worth $50,000.
And more than just advancing his career goals at 125 pounds, Saturday’s result was crucial for reasons away from the Octagon.
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Charles Johnson’s manager had to lend him money before crazy UFC Shanghai KO
Johnson’s trip to China saw him enter the cage for the 12th time as a UFC fighter. ‘InnerG’ has remained incredibly active since joining the promotion in 2022 after a reign as LFA flyweight champion.
But those efforts have evidently not been enough to leave the American financially comfortable, as Ariel Helwani reported after UFC Shanghai.
The Canadian took to X to reveal he’d been told that Johnson had to be lent money from his manager in the lead-up to the August 23 event as his bank account was empty.
“Charles Johnson’s bank account went into the red this week, his team tells me,” Helwani wrote.
“His manager Brian Butler lent him some money. Johnson has a baby arriving any day now.
“Got this big KO. Got a bonus, too. First win of 2025. Congrats @innerGmma_ufc,” he added.
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Charles Johnson won four UFC fights in 2024 but was still struggling financially
Johnson’s financial struggles come despite the flyweight contender being among the promotion’s most active fighters and winning all four of his matchups last year.
After entering the year on a three-fight losing skid, ‘InnerG’ enjoyed an incredible run that marked him out as one of 2024’s most successful athletes in the UFC.
A run of four straight wins included Johnson knocking out Joshua Van, who is expected to be the next in line to challenge Alexandre Pantoja after victories at consecutive pay-per-views this past June.
Johnson has continued to come up against newcomers and promising prospects outside the top 15, much to the frustration of many fans and analysts. And the revelation of his financial woes has only increased anger toward the UFC.
“Unless he’s terrible with money it’s a shame a dude as active as him that’s been mostly winning can be broke. Bad look for the UFC,” one fan wrote on X.
Others shared similar sentiments.
“In 2024, he won 4 fights and 2 bonuses, how can he be bankrupt?”
“Pay Charles Johnson, he has beat by KO 2 promising prospects.”
“None of these fighters should have to worry about money. PFL fighters seem to be doing better financially?”