mma / News

John Dodson Has a Plan To Face Demetrious Johnson Again

April 20, 2017 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

John Dodson spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Eddie Wineland at UFC Fight Night 108. Some highlights are below:

On a third fight with Demetrious Johnson: “The fastest way for me to fight Demetrious Johnson isn’t going to be back at 125. Look at Joseph Benavidez; he’s been dominating at the 125 division, but he’s been sitting there under the umbrella of Demetrious Johnson. He’s sitting there in his shadow and can’t cast his own because of the fact everyone wants to look at him, as he’s the No. 1 dude they want to highlight all the time. He’s not going to get that recognition. I don’t think anyone is going to want to see Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez 3. I want that chance to get to do it again, but no one wants to watch that. What could happen again is seeing the 125 champion fight the 135 champion, and it will be DJ vs. JD. He’s been setting records. He can set as many as possible, but will it be a different goal for him to beat the guy that has that 135 title? Can he possibly get that one too?”

On possible fights with TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt: “Both of them are good fights (for me). Cody’s an awesome dude. I think he has real potential. But I think my speed will be too much for his power. T.J. is there, and everybody already knows I would love to get my hands on him. He’s a very accomplished fighter, and he’s done so much since we fought the first time. It would be good to see what he could do for the second time around. I think he’ll last maybe a minute longer, but the outcome is the same.”

On people turning down fights with him: “Everybody that I wanted to propel myself before this fight has already said no. Raphael Assuncao, Aljamain Sterling and, of course, Jimmie Rivera sat there and said, ‘Oh, Dodson is not going to fight me. I’m not going to take him last minute. I’d rather take Marlon Vera.’ Then the fight got pulled because he didn’t want to try to seem like a bully? You can’t try to bully me. I would have been OK with him trying to do that because I would have put him to sleep.”