The UFC has struggled to make fight fans care about the flyweight division, but John Dodson believes he’s the solution to that problem.
While the 125-pound fold is lined with talented fighters and currently features one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport in Demetrious Johnson as champion, fan interest in the weight class has yet to take hold.
This especially rings true where “Mighty Mouse” is concerned, as the first and only UFC flyweight champion has continually failed in his efforts to connect with the promotion’s passionate fanbase. It’s unclear whether the cause of this stigma is due to a lack of push from the UFC or fans refusing to invest in the lighter weight classes, but the situation is certainly real.
Again, Dodson feels he’s the solution to the problem.
The heavy-handed former title challenger is confident he will be the fighter who shifts how fans see the flyweight division and feels he’s the only one who has the power to do it.
“The Magician” recently spoke out on the subject during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour (h/t Alex Schlinsky of MMA Mania), and the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native pulled no punches:
We always thought it was going to be Ian McCall, but Ian McCall hasn’t been able to perform the way that he wants to. So I guess I can step up and say that I am the savior of the flyweight division. If everybody wants to have a last hope for [the division], it’d be me…
I notice when you guys bring me up to Demetrious Johnson or to T.J. Dillashaw, both of them get super butthurt about the fact that you guys ask them about fighting me. Demetrious had his toughest fight against me and he knows that he’ll have one again, another tough fight with me. I potentially could steal that title from him. And T.J. Dillashaw goes around telling everyone that when I fought him, it was a fluke, and that it never would happen again. I just keep on looking ahead, man. I’m going to be champion…
I wouldn’t want to sit there saying, “What if I wasn’t champion?” I just know that I’m going to be the champion, and that’s a fact I’m going to stay with. I’m going to go out there and bang it out with them dudes, and when I walk away with the championship, I’m going to let them know that we both knew this was going to happen.
While Dodson has battled injuries that have kept him on the sidelines for a good portion of the past two years, MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti indicates he’s been adamant about getting another another shot at Johnson’s flyweight crown.
The two fighters initially collided at UFC on Fox 6 back in January of 2013, with the Parkland, Washington, native earning victory on the judges’ scorecards.
With that said, Dodson had control of the fight in the early going, as he put the champion on the deck twice with his signature power shots.
Nevertheless, if Dodson wants to get back into title contention in quick fashion, he will have to first answer the challenge standing directly in his path back to the top.
The 30-year-old knockout artist is scheduled to square off with former Bellator champion turned UFC contender Zach Makovsky at UFC 187 on May 23 in Las Vegas. “Fun Size” has won three of his four showings inside the Octagon, with his most recent victory coming at the expense of Tim Elliott at Fight Night 60 back in February.
Both Dodson and Makovsky are within striking distance of a title opportunity, and the winner of their tilt could very well earn the next shot at the flyweight strap.
Dodson believes he’s the future of his weight class, and a victory over Makovsky at UFC 187 would bring him one step closer to backing up such a bold claim.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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