Jon Dodson recovering from ‘near death’ car accident

John Dodson trades punches with Eddie Wineland during their 2017 UFC bout. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The veteran fighter had been set to compete on July 30th for the first time followin…


John Dodson trades punches with Eddie Wineland during their 2017 UFC bout.
John Dodson trades punches with Eddie Wineland during their 2017 UFC bout. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The veteran fighter had been set to compete on July 30th for the first time following his release from the UFC in 2020.

Harrowing news has been reported regarding Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner and former multiple-time UFC title contender John ‘The Magician’ Dodson. Dodson’s manager, Ricky Kottenstette, took to Instagram on Saturday, July 3rd, to announce that the long-time Jackson-Wink talent and his family had been involved in a life threatening car accident on Friday night, from which they were now recovering.

Dodson had been preparing to take his first bout after exiting the UFC late last year, against fellow former UFC talent Cody Gibson on July 30th at XMMA 2: Saunders vs. Nijem. Dodson and his family were reportedly on their way for a vacation in Texas when the accident occurred.

Kottenstette has organized a GoFundMe to help assist Dodson and his family as they recover from their injuries.

We have started this go fund me to help John Dodson and family. The Dodson’s were headed to Texas on vacation to visit family when they were involved in a near death accident with the whole family inside the vehicle. They were all released from the hospital this morning but will have a rough month of recovery and financial hardship ahead. They have totaled their family vehicle and unfortunately John will no longer be able to fight in his upcoming July 30th bout. We are asking for assistance to help them with their medical bills, financial assistance from being out of work and travel back to New Mexico. Let’s show these guys some ??.

The 36-year-old fighting out of Albuquerque, NM last took on rising Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 252 in August of 2020, losing that fight by unanimous decision. That defeat marked the end of a 9-year, 17-fight career with the UFC in the promotion’s flyweight and bantamweight divisions—including a pair of title fights with long-reigning champion Demetrious Johnson. Dodson left the promotion with a 21-12 record overall.