Former flyweight title challenger John “The Magician” Dodson will return from a nearly one-year layoff to take on up-and-comer Zach Makovsky at UFC 187.
Sherdog.com first reported the news on Dodson, who has been sidelined following a July surgery to repair a torn MCL and ACL. The 30-year-old last competed at UFC Fight Night 42 in June, notching a second-round TKO over fellow flyweight contender John Moraga. “Fun Size” most recently dominated Tim Elliott en route to a unanimous decision victory at UFC Fight Night 60.
The Magician was a winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 and is 5-1 in his Octagon career. His only loss came at the hands of longtime flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.
Dodson pushed “Mighty Mouse” for 25 minutes and proved to be one of his toughest foes to date. Since his title hopes came up short, the Jackson’s MMA fighter reeled off two straight knockout victories against Darrell Montague and Moraga.
The former Bellator bantamweight titleholder, Makovsky, made a successful Octagon debut in December 2013 against veteran Scott Jorgensen. The 31-year-old boasts a 3-1 record in the UFC and is one of the most dominant wrestlers in the flyweight division.
The former NCAA Division I wrestler from Drexel Univerity averages nearly five takedowns each time he steps into the cage, per FightMetric.
When Makovsky stands opposite Dodson on May 23, it will be the second time he faces a member of the flyweight elite. If history is any indicator, he will have a tough time figuring out The Magician’s tricks.
Fun Size failed in his first foray into the upper echelon of the 125-pound weight class. The Georgia native was stifled by Nova Uniao’s Jussier Formiga at UFC Fight Night 47 in August.
Makovsky‘s opponent on Memorial Day weekend, Dodson, stopped the Brazilian ground specialist Formiga with strikes in the second round of their UFC on FX 5 tilt in October 2012.
The pair’s UFC 187 main card spot will have title implications. Following his win over Moraga, Dodson was on the cusp of earning a rematch with Mighty Mouse, UFC President Dana White alluded.
Dodson currently sits at No. 1 in UFC.com’s flyweight rankings while Makovsky checks in at No. 9. Will Makovsky prove that he’s a worthy title challenger, or does Dodson send the prospect back into flyweight purgatory?
A disastrous knee injury like the one Dodson suffered has the power to strip the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based fighter of his greatest asset: his speed. The TUF 14 alum is one of the division’s most entertaining and successful fighters because he is able to stick-and-move.
If his knee is at full strength, expect The Magician to dodge Makovsky‘s takedowns attempts and put on a magic show at UFC 187.
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