The little guys in the UFC are getting set to put on a show.
The flyweight championship will be up for grabs Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas when champion Demetrious Johnson defends his title against John Dodson.
Johnson has been dominant in his most recent fights, but when he engaged Dodson in 2013, he got knocked down by Dodson in the second round before ultimately winning the fight via a decision.
Dodson has not been timid in the pre-fight build-up. He has been emphatic about his ability to punish Johnson and take the title from him. Johnson, however, has not engaged his rival in a war of words.
There is little doubt that both men are among the most talented UFC fighters. Dodson’s greatest asset may be his power, and Johnson knows it. He was hammered and hurt twice by Dodson’s punches in their first fight, but he was able to overcome that advantage due to his own superior conditioning and his effective grappling.
Johnson (22-2-1) has four wins by knockout in his career and another nine by submissions. Dodson (17-6) has eight knockouts and two wins by submission.
The oddsmakers favor Johnson by a significant margin. According to OddsShark.com, Johnson is a minus-550 favorite while Dodson is a plus-425 underdog.
Johnson is a well-rounded former wrestler who excels in his transitions and can go from grappling to punch combinations or kicking in a smooth and dangerous manner. Dodson is also a former wrestler, but his striking ability has become his strength. That’s the area where he may have the advantage over Johnson.
However, when the fight goes to the ground, it appears that Johnson has the edge. It’s not an area of weakness for Dodson, it’s just an area where Johnson excels.
Cassie Wiseman of MMA Crossfire believes that Johnson’s superior conditioning and versatility gives him the edge in this fight, and he will take it via a unanimous decision.
UFC fighters Brian Stann and Kenny Florian both came down on Johnson’s side.
Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson: Stann and Florian both take Demetrious Johnson to retain the flyweight title.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) September 3, 2015
This is a fight that could easily rise above expectations. If Dodson can follow up on his hard shots and combinations better than he did in the first meeting, he has a legitimate chance to come up with the upset.
However, if Johnson uses his grappling and transition ability and doesn’t allow Dodson to flurry after he gets in a single shot or a two-punch combination, he appears to be the more well-rounded fighter.
Look for Johnson to defend his title and get his second win over Dodson.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com