John Dodson

Fight History

Skill Breakdown

Charts are compiled based on results from 10 fights.

Record:	19-8-0
Summary:	Speed, fast hands and feet, explosive

Fighter Info

Nickname:	The Magician
From:	Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
Fights Out Of:	Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
Age:	32
Height:	5' 3" ( 160 cm )
Weight:	135 lb ( 61 kg )
Reach	66"
Leg Reach	35"

Media

UFC Fight Night event at the Moda Center on October 1, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Oct 01, 2016
John Lineker talks in the Octagon about his split decision win against John Dodson at UFC Fight Night Portland.

Oct 01, 2016 2:37
UFC Fight Night weigh-in at the Oregon Convention Center on September 30, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Sep 30, 2016
Check out the highlights from today's weigh-in, featuring Fight Night Portland main event fighters John Lineker and John Dodson.

Sep 30, 2016

All John Dodson Media

Striking

Total Attempted Strikes

1074

41% Successful

438

Types of Successful Strikes

438

80% Standing

15%

352

Striking Defense

The percentage of total strikes avoided

Grappling

Total Takedowns

29% Successful

Grappling Totals by Type

Subm.

Passes

Sweeps

Takedown Defense

The percentage of total takedowns avoided

Result	Fighters	Event	Str	TD	Sub	Pass	Method	Replay	Awards
Loss	John Lineker John Dodson	UFC Fight Night Lineker vs Dodson:Live on FS1 Oct 1, 2016	93 101	0 0	0 0	0 1	R5 Decision - Split

Win	John Dodson Manny Gamburyan	UFC Fight Night Teixeira vs. Evans:Live on FOX Apr 16, 2016	16 2	0 0	0 0	0 0	R1 KO/TKO

	Demetrious Johnson John Dodson	UFC 191 Johnson vs. Dodson 2:Live on Pay-Per-View Sep 5, 2015	88 58	4 1	0 0	0 0	R5 Decision - Unanimous

Win	John Dodson Zach Makovsky	UFC 187 Johnson vs. Cormier:Live on Pay-Per-View May 23, 2015	31 37	2 0	0 0	1 0	R3 Decision - Unanimous	Watch

Win	John Dodson John Moraga	UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Khabilov Jun 7, 2014	27 8	1 0	0 0	0 0	R2 TKO - Doctor's Stoppage

Win	John Dodson Darrell Montague	UFC 166 Live on Pay-Per-View:Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3 Oct 19, 2013	28 10	0 0	0 0	0 0	R1 KO/TKO	Watch	Knockout of the Night

	Demetrious Johnson John Dodson	UFC on FOX 6 Live from Chicago:Johnson vs. Dodson Jan 26, 2013	127 57	5 1	0 0	0 0	R5 Decision - Unanimous	Watch	Fight of the Night

Win	John Dodson Jussier Formiga	UFC on FX 5:Browne vs. Bigfoot Oct 5, 2012	33 9	0 0	0 0	0 0	R2 KO/TKO	Watch

Win	John Dodson Tim Elliott	UFC on FOX 3:Diaz vs. Miller May 5, 2012	80 79	2 0	0 0	0 0	R3 Decision - Unanimous	Watch

	TJ Dillashaw John Dodson	The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale:Team Bisping vs. Team Miller Dec 3, 2011	2 7	0 0	0 0	0 0	R1 KO/TKO	Watch	Knockout of the Night
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Photos

Biography

As improbable as it sounds, John Dodson’s MMA career was born at Chuck E. Cheese in Albuquerque, N.M.

That’s where Dodson was working in 2002 when he was persuaded by MMA coach Chris Luttrell to transform his exceptional wrestling skills into a possible fighting career.

As Dodson says, “The rest of the story is what you see now.”

Dodson is one of the quickest, most explosive fighters in the UFC’s flyweight division. He’s the No. 1 contender to champion Demetrious Johnson, who is the only fighter to beat him in the UFC.

Dodson, who has also fought in the featherweight and bantamweight classes, holds a victory over current UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. His first-round TKO over Dillashaw in December 2011 earned Dodson the Ultimate Fighter 14 bantamweight title.

Dodson climbed quickly through the flyweight ranks, defeating Timothy Elliott and Jussier Formiga in 2012 to earn a shot at Johnson, who was defending his belt for the first time. In January 2013 at UFC on FOX, Dodson knocked down Johnson twice in the early rounds before “Mighty Mouse” took control and won a unanimous five-round decision.

Dodson (18-6, 6-1 in the UFC) bounced back with consecutive wins over Darrell Montague, John Moraga and Zach Makovsky to solidify his spot as the top contender to Johnson’s crown. His 18 victories include nine knockouts and two submissions.

Dodson was a two-time state wrestling champion at Moriarty High School in New Mexico. He also competed in football and track.

One thing Dodson doesn’t lack is confidence. He has talked about holding UFC belts in three weight classes – flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight – at the same time and considers himself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.

“I’m the greatest fighter in the UFC,” he told UFC.com. “I should be the No. 1 guy in the world pound for pound, and that’s how I look at it in my own eyes.”

TRAINING: I eat, train, poop, train, eat, go for a run, poop, eat, watch some TV, play with the kids, poop, train, eat watch some more TV and sleep.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in '02. I was working at Chuck E. Cheese at the time and just so happened that I was the birthday host for Chris Luttrell’s son’s birthday. Some of the guys that were there knew me from wrestling and asked where I was planning to go after high school and wrestle. I told them nowhere and then that’s when they invited me to Jackson’s. The rest of the story is what you see now.

What ranks and titles have you held? TUF 14 winner, black belt in Gaidojutsu

Do you have any heroes? My hero is my mother. She raised my brother and I to be the men that we are today. Strong, independent, and will never give up on our dreams.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's means a lot to me to fight in the UFC. I could be the best at flyweight in the world, but no one will know my name. I'm trying to have my name written in the stars and not washed away in the sands. Being in the UFC will help me with that.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to the University of New Mexico and studied Criminology. I haven't got my degree yet.

What was your job before you started fighting? I was a Server at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and instructor at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA gym.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Won tons of Grappler Quests back in the day, was a state champion wrestler in high school, went undefeated as amateur in MMA

Favorite grappling technique: Chokes - it doesn't matter what kind, I like them all.

Favorite striking technique: Jumping head kick

• Team Miller member on TUF 14

• Pro since 2004

• Ten wins by KO, two by submission (2 RNC)

• Faced UFC vet Mike Easton in 2008 bout (lost split decision) and defeated John Moraga in non-UFC bout in 2010

• Has won 11 of his last 13