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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight title challenger and Ultimate Fighter winner John Dodson has been released from the promotion, per a recent report by MMA fighting. Dodson had just signed a new five-fight deal with UFC earlier this year.
Dodson’s manager, Ricky Kottenstette, confirmed the news in a statement released on Friday night.
“We are excited to see what other offers are out there for John,” Kottenstette said. “John is 100 percent committed to his fight career and he’s not diminished in his skill set whatsoever.
“John has fought the absolute best in the world in two weight classes and he’s still more than ready face elite competition. We look forward to talking to any and all promotions to find John the best home for his future.”
Dodson, 35, leaves behind a 10-7 record inside of the Octagon with five knockout finishes and three post-fight bonus awards. The man known as “Magician” even logged two separate flyweight title shots throughout his nine-year UFC career, but ended up running into pound-of-pound legend Demetrious Johnson on both occasions and lost.
Despite all of his success inside of the Octagon Dodson’s biggest career accomplishment may have came in his UFC debut against T.J. Dillashaw back in 2011. Dodson ended up catching Dillashaw in the first round and put him away with strikes, winning The Ultimate Fighters Season 14 in the process.
While Dodson has lost three of his last five fights since the beginning of 2018 the veteran contender still has a lot left in the tank. Those losses came against top-tier competition like Petr Yan and Jimmie Rivera so Dodson should fare well in another organization with a slightly less talent-rich bantamweight division. It also helps that Dodson has never been finished in his 33-fight professional career.
What say you, Maniacs? Will Dodson land on his feet in another promotion? If so, where should “Magician” sign?
Sound off!