UFC champ ponders move into full-time video game streaming

Current UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson has said that he plans to become a full-time game streamer.

As per Bloody Elbow‘s transcript of his interview with The Three Amigos, as spotted by Kotaku, Johnson explained that his wife suggested the idea when pondering what he could do once his fighting career comes to an end.

I always loved playing video games. Super Contra was the game I fell in love with. I played and beat that game with my mom,” he said. I heard you could watch people play videogames, and that’s how I discovered Twitch. So after some time I started streaming some games on my PS4. I’d have like two viewers in there as I played Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn.

Next thing you know, my wife was like, ‘You should get into it baby, what do you want to do after you’re done fighting? Why don’t you try streaming?’ Then Twitch reached out to me and told me everything I needed to get to be a serious streamer. I didn’t want to do it half-assed and try to stream from my PS4 or Xbox One, so I bought a computer and she was all in, so I was like, ‘Let’s do it.’

Since I’ve started streaming I spend at least 15 hours a week playing games, maybe more. My brain needs to be stimulated. I look at streaming like a side project, and I take my side projects and my jobs very seriously. Streaming on Twitch isn’t just about playing video games, it’s about building a community amongst your fans. Right now most of my community is MMA fans, but I’m hoping to break down that barrier and attract the gaming community.

You have to think about what you’re going to do after your career. I’ve always thought about going back to work at a warehouse or whatever I need to do to make ends meet, but now streaming and video gaming is just kicking off. All I care about is the next game coming out next month. I’m still fighting, I’m in the prime of my career and train my ass off every single day, but I’m starting my second career now. Why not? I’m building my viewership and community now, so when I’m 38 years old and I’m done fighting I can have streaming as my main source of income, hopefully.”

Johnson plays under the name Mightymouseufc125 on Twitch. He currently has over 20k followers and is best known for streaming PS4 exclusive Bloodborne.

Johnson made the gaming headlines last month when one of his Bloodborne streams was interrupted by a UFC drug testing team.