There is an unusual amount of hostility coming from John "The Magician" Dodson as he prepares to challenge Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson for the UFC flyweight title at UFC 191 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Johnson (21-2-1, 10-1-1 UFC) is the reigning champion and has already defeated Dodson (18-6, 6-1 UFC) once in his career. However, Johnson knows it was one of his toughest fights, having been knocked down by Dodson in the second round before his speed, precision and skill took over and earned the win.
Dodson should feel confident since he has hurt Johnson in the past, but he has been laying into Johnson in the days before the fight.
Dodson let loose with both barrels in an interview with Bleacher Report's Chad Dundas:
I am going to kick him repeatedly. He’s going to try to shoot, and when he shoots I’m going to stop his takedown, and I’m going to hit him more and more and more until somebody pulls me off of his lifeless corpse. I’m going to dribble his head off the canvas like it’s a basketball and I’m playing in the NBA Finals. I will walk through him and destroy his whole life, his whole meaning and purpose.
According to Dundas, Dodson also called Johnson bad for the sport because he's unpopular.
This may not be the wisest way to prepare for an opponent who has been winning every battle. Dodson appears to have a puncher's chance, but that's about it. The longer the fight goes, the likelier it is that Johnson's skill in the 125-pound weight class will take over.
According to 5Dimes (h/t Odds Shark), Johnson is a solid favorite with 2-11 odds to win, while Dodson is an underdog with 17-4 odds to win. Those odds indicate that Dodson is doing little more than blustering before the fight.
UFC 191 Staff Predictions: Can Demetrious Johnson continue his remarkable run? http://t.co/aul4ZpVo6f http://pic.twitter.com/LgghF8Rudr
— theScore (@theScore) September 3, 2015
UFC 191 Staff Predictions: Can Demetrious Johnson continue his remarkable run?: Prior to every UFC e... http://t.co/8AjL3pfU5L #mma #ufc
— UFC_News (@_UFC_News_) September 3, 2015
He has a chance to register the upset, but it would almost certainly have to be the result of his ability to land heavy punches in the early going.
That's how he gained the early advantage in 2013, and he almost certainly has to follow the same formula here.
Johnson simply has too many skills. He can grapple, kick and has excellent punch combinations. What has made him so difficult to beat is that he transitions so well between his different techniques.
I am counting down the days. @ufc 191 #ufc191 https://t.co/FOnBmxQhZ2
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) September 3, 2015
That talent has allowed Johnson to dominate, and he appears to have improved more than Dodson since their 2013 meeting.
Prediction
Dodson is a strong man with speed, and that's always a dangerous combination. He will be looking to end this fight with a series of big-time strikes.
While Johnson is an excellent all-around fighter, he can be hit. If Dodson can get one or two power punches in early, he has a chance to register an upset—or at least come close to getting it.
Dodson has a problem, however. He tends to fight at long distance and look for opportunities to pick his shots. He is not a volume fighter and may go 20-plus seconds without throwing a punch.
That's going to work out in Johnson's favor. He is going to use his talent as a wrestler and all-around fighter to gain the advantage. He will be in charge by the end of the second round.
Johnson wins by decision.
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