John Dodson is set to challenge UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Fox 6, scheduled for Jan. 26. But he wants to leave Chicago with more than the belt.
He wants a little extra spending money too.
“I want to get that Fight of the Night bonus for sure, and whatever else I can get on the back end,” Dodson said during a UFC on Fox media conference call held Tuesday and covered by Bleacher Report MMA.
Despite Dodson’s desire to put on the evening’s best fight, taking home the bonus may be a tall order. The odds-on favorites to garner the honor are lightweights Anthony Pettis and Dodson teammate Donald Cerrone. Crowd-pleasing knockout artists Quinton Jackson and Glover Teixeira also face off on the card.
But if any flyweight can break though, it’s Dodson. Dodson (14-5, 3-0 UFC) dropped to flyweight after winning the bantamweight competition during the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter. In his last bout, Dodson, 28, earned a TKO over highly regarded submission artist Jussier Formiga at UFC on FX 5 to earn the title shot with Johnson.
Dodson has great striking power for a flyweight and is known for his elite athleticism. In his only previous career title fight, Dodson lost a bid for the Ultimate Warrior Challenge flyweight belt.
UFC on Fox 6 marks the first time flyweights will headline a major UFC card. Given this, and the fact that fans have not historically preferred lighter-weight fighters over their heavier, knockout-happy colleagues, it would be reasonable to expect Dodson and Johnson to feel extra motivation to perform. Dodson, at least, appeared to embrace that position.
“It’s only my third fight in the UFC,” Dodson said on the conference call. “I’ve only been in there for a year. It’s a great feeling and I want to put on a good show. I’m fighting for flyweights across the world right now.”
Scott Harris is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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