UFC 191 ended with a familiar sight—Demetrious Johnson earning a victory over John Dodson and leaving with the championship belt around his waist.
In Saturday night's main event, Johnson defeated Dodson by unanimous decision, 49-46, 49-46, 50-45.
UFC confirmed the result on Twitter with a post congratulating the defending flyweight champion:
Johnson and Dodson both darted around the Octagon in a stunning show of athleticism, and it was a pleasant sight to see following a sluggish co-main event that featured Andrei Arlovski’s unanimous-decision victory over Frank Mir.
And although Dodson was the more aggressive fighter in the second round, his intensity waned during the third and fourth rounds. Conveniently, Johnson used that 10-minute stretch to assert his dominance and enter the final round with momentum on his side.
A flurry of straight rights in the fifth round proceeded to seal the deal for the champ, who wasn't fazed by Dodson's chilly demeanor, which Bleacher Report's Jeremy Botter described prior to the fight:
Vanquishing Dodson a second time was yet another check on the dwindling list of accomplishments Johnson has left in the flyweight division. Mighty Mouse now has seven successful title defenses at flyweight, but this win gives him another one over one of few challengers who have come close to upending him.
According to FightMetric, Dodson lost the first fight by just one point on two of the judges' scorecards.
However, Johnson is one of the game's best tacticians. Winning a rematch against the champion turned out to be too much to ask. Still, as one of the top flyweights in a division that lacks depth, Dodson could still earn a rubber match.
Johnson himself already addressed the idea leading up to the rematch, per Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie:
I plan on being in this sport for a long time, and I believe John Dodson will be in the sport for a long time as well. I think our paths will cross again just like I believe my path will cross again with Joseph Benavidez whether I win this fight or not.
We’re the top fighters in the world, and if we keep beating all the people below us, we’ll meet again regardless of who’s champ or not.
Just where Johnson goes from here will be interesting. It's hard to believe because of the general lack of buzz surrounding his fights, but he's just two more defenses away from breaking Anderson Silva's record of 10 consecutive title defenses.
Regardless of opponent, that's an impressive mark.
However, the number of interesting flyweights for him to fight is shrinking. He already holds wins over five of the top seven in the UFC's flyweight rankings. Jussier Formiga and Henry Cejudo make up the rest of that top seven, but Formiga hasn't exactly impressed, and Cejudo might not be ready for that stage just nine fights into his professional debut.
Still, it doesn't sound like Johnson is a man ready to go back to 135 pounds before cementing his legacy as the best flyweight in UFC history.
"At this point in my career, (changing divisions is) not even on my mind; I’m a small guy, and right now I’m just focused on John Dodson,” Johnson said, per Bohn. “Once the time comes that I’ve broken the record and set goals—the goals I want to make—then I’ll start thinking about going to 135."
With another win over Dodson, Johnson has certainly earned the right to control his own destiny. As if his 9-0-1 run in the division wasn't enough evidence, he's earned the right to defend the title of best flyweight for as long as he can continue his run of dominance.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
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