DJ had multiple issues with the TJ fight.
Throughout his career, DJ would first hear who he was fighting first from second hand sources. The UFC wouldn't give him a call first. They'd just put the bout in motion and he would hear about it after the punditry did - which is absurd and insulting, and doubly so considering DJ is a champion.
Come time for the 11th title defence, DJ asked to fight Sergio Pettis, but the UFC insisted on Borg so DJ took the Borg fight.
Then when he started preparing for Borg, TJ started making noise and Dana approach DJ that he fight was now going to be against TJ, who had never once fought in the division. DJ resisted but Dana insisted that it was what TJ wanted - which is really fucking insulting considering DJ was a 10 time defending champion.
DJ resisted at first but then said he would take the fight for more money.
UFC said no.
Then DJ said he would accept the fight if he got guaranteed TJ's purse if he failed to make weight.
This was a stipulation TJ himself went on record to agreeing to but the UFC said no.
At which point, DJ said fuck it and went public with how terribly the UFC had treated him, which they have. DJ is a great ambassador for the sport, a consummate professional and a dominant champion. The respect they were giving did not reflect that, not even close.
And before long the TJ fight fell apart.
Not because DJ refused to fight, but because the UFC refused to accept his terms, which were not at all outrageous.
I don't trust this timeline coming from MM at all. It's at odds with things he's said in the past and even when discussing some of the elements you mention here, he's completely at odds.
Doesn't want TJ fight unless he gets guaranteed purse AND doesn't have to fight even a replacement if TJ doesn't make weight. Claims it's because rankings should have meaning. But he wants Pettis (ranked lower than Borg) OR would take Garbrandt (with no missed weight stipulation) because Champion. Claims not to care about his professional legacy to Ariel (paraphasing; "my kids are my legacy") but previously put out statements clearing talking about how big a deal his 11th straight defense would be.
Everyone who pays attention knows that the UFC isn't going to take your wants into account unless you're putting asses in seats. Dana's always been bullish in the way he handles the business. But as much as that's true MM's own statements leading up to the fight being finally set have no consistency. So like most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Facts that are relevant:
MM complained about not getting pushed and not being paid well.
He was offered a fight against a more popular fighter that would give him a huge visual boost along with which comes the opportunity of more money if he impresses. He refused it outright then asked for the ridiculous make-weight stipulation that would mean if TJ was even a lb off then the card loses an entire fight. That type of deal has never, ever been done. For anyone.
MM then requests Ray Borg who almost no one has paid any attention to because he's middle of the road in a division comprised of middle of the road.
These are not things that make MM an endearing figure. When all is said and done I
still don't care about MM and I
still know UFC/Dana are staying status quo dicks w/ the business.
