John Dodson – image via UFC.com
A couple of flyweights appear to be headed on a collision course as John ‘The Magician’ Dodson (13-5) and promotion newcomer Jussier da Silva (14-1) are rumored to meet at the upcoming UFC on FX 5 event.
Tatame.com reported the match on Monday, with MMAjunkie.com confirming that one of the two fighters has agreed to the matchup.
UFC on FX 5 is expected to take place on October 5 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Travis Browne vs. Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva.
Dodson is the winner of the bantamweight bracket for season fourteen of “The Ultimate Fighter,” vanquishing fellow finalist T.J. Dillashaw by first round TKO at the shows finale last December. The victory not only won Dodson the six-figure contract but the “Knockout of the Night” bonus. With the inclusion of the flyweight division inside the Octagon, Dodson would return to 125-lbs and face Tim Elliott last May. ‘The Magician’ would win that match by decision at the New Jersey event.
Da Silva will enter the Octagon on a five fight win streak, having earned a submission victory this past weekend at a Shooto – Brazil 31 event. Da Silva’s only loss came at the hands of UFC flyweight tournament semi-finalist Ian McCall in February 2011 at a Tachi Palace Fights show. Da Silva has earned seven of his victories by submission while earning seven by decision.