John Dodson: UFC trying to make Demetrious Johnson 'look like a better champion'
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- It isn't that John Dodson thinks the UFC is giving Demetrious Johnson tomato cans. After all, Johnson's next fight at UFC 174 on June 14 is against Dodson's teammate Ali Bagautinov.
Dodson just believes the UFC is avoiding giving him a rematch against Johnson for the flyweight title to build Johnson up in the eyes of the fans.
"They can keep on giving Demetrious Johnson whoever they want to make him look like a better champion, make him look like he can be a spectacular fighter and cement his name in that division," Dodson said Thursday at UFC Fight Night media day. "It's gonna make me look better when I knock him out."
Dodson, 29, was slightly disappointed he didn’t get the title fight in Vancouver next week despite his standing as the top-ranked flyweight contender in the UFC. Instead, he'll face John Moraga on Saturday at UFC Fight Night (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m.) in his hometown, here at Tingley Coliseum. Then, maybe he'll get his second shot at "Mighty Mouse."
"They're giving him guys that are up in the division, deserve a title shot, but in my eyes I already think I'm the champion," Dodson said.
Arguably, no one has done better against Johnson since he's had the belt. Dodson probably won two rounds against him in a unanimous decision loss in January 2013. There are few fighters who can match Johnson's speed, explosiveness and athleticism. Dodson is one of them, which makes a rematch extremely intriguing.
"I think about it all the time," he said of that last fight. "If I would have jumped on opportunities that I had, I would have easily been the new champion right now. But I didn’t. I can't change the past."
He does control his own destiny, though. With a win over Moraga, especially if it's in impressive fashion, the UFC would have a hard time not giving Dodson a rematch. And if Bagautinov beats Johnson at UFC 174, Dodson would have no problem locking up with him even though they train together at Jackson-Winkeljohn.
"I'd fight my own brother," Dodson said. "I've already told people that."
If he ever does win the title, Dodson is more than ready for a superfight with newly crowned bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw. Dodson beat Dillashaw in 2011 in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 14 when they were both fighting at 135.
"I know how much it sucks to lose to somebody, so if he ever wants to run that back, we can," Dodson said.
Pearson hoping to play spoiler
Diego Sanchez (left) and Ross Pearson square off Friday at weigh-ins at Tingley Coliseum.
A Heisenberg shirt isn't going to help him Saturday night.
Ross Pearson meets hometown boy Diego Sanchez in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday here at Tingley Coliseum. He was booed lustily by fans Friday at weigh-ins before showing off a "Breaking Bad" tee. Pearson won't be able to turn the fans so easily Saturday and he knows it.
Actually, the Brit is embracing the bad guy role. He wanted this fight, which he thinks could elevate himself in the eyes of the fans.
"Beating Diego in his hometown, in front of his friends, his family, it's a massive statement," Pearson said. "It's not an easy thing to do to beat Diego on any given day. The guy is a warrior. He's as tough as they come."
