John Dodson: No one cares about flyweights because Demetrious Johnson is champion
It's been almost a year since John Dodson stepped into the UFC Octagon, but following major knee surgery, the top-ranked contender is back in action at UFC 187 and he's prepared to help salvage the struggling flyweight division from irrelevancy.
Dodson has been one of the loudest voices over the past two years speaking out against current flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson by saying that he's the main reason the 125-pound fighters aren't getting much love from fans or TV viewers.
Johnson has been the only flyweight champion in the UFC, but he's consistently struggled to pull in monster ratings while suffering as the lowest draw on pay-per-view of any current champion who has headlined a show.
Dodson doesn't waste any time pointing out Johnson's shortcomings the minute his name comes up in conversation.
"What were you saying? I just fell asleep because you mentioned Demetrious Johnson," Dodson told FOX Sports. "What was the question again? No matter what you say, he's so boring the mere mention of his name is a joke.
"Would you like to do an interview with him? He's such a boring person, why would anyone want to interview him? Why would I want to sit there and be bored to death? This is why no one wants to watch and no one cares about flyweights -- because you are our champion. Because you're so boring, because you don't give them that 'Wow!' factor."
When Dodson came off his season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2011, he was received with a mixed response from fans, with some cheers and a few boos as well. Ever since he faced Johnson in 2013 and came within a few punches of taking the title away from him, Dodson has felt that pendulum swing in only one direction.
"Go check my Facebook, my Twitter and my Instagram -- everybody wants me to come back and wants me to beat up Demetrious Johnson," Dodson said. "You are the little ray of hope that everyone wants to attach themselves to. If I'm that shining light that can brighten up a dark room, then I'm going to do it and I'm going to do it in amazing fashion, and it's going to be so flashy that everyone is going to be able to see it."
Dodson will fight this weekend against fellow top-10 flyweight Zach Makovsky with the assumption that if he wins, he will get the next crack at Johnson for the title. Johnson is certainly no fan of Dodson, but it would be hard to deny him the shot if he wins at UFC 187.
Dodson is ready to prove that with the title around the waist of the right kind of fighter, the flyweight division will flourish. He is ready to face Makovsky this weekend, Johnson next and then take out Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo if he's ready for the challenge as well.
He even welcomes a rematch with UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, who Dodson knocked out at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale in 2011.
"I'll beat up Demetrious Johnson first and then I'll beat up Henry Cejudo next. Anyone that wants to fight me at flyweight or even the bantamweight division," Dodson said.
"Even T.J. Dillashaw is still afraid. Any time my name gets whispered to that dude, he starts to quiver and shake. Ask him a question about me and watch how fast he gets pissed off. Same thing with Demetrious Johnson. They both know that I'm the biggest threat to them."
If there's one concern that gets raised whenever Dodson is talking about snatching the title from Johnson or going up a weight class to face Dillashaw it's about his focus as he actually faces Makovsky this weekend.
Dodson promises that for as much disdain as he carries around for Johnson during his interviews, his training and preparation are all aimed at Makovsky and their fight at UFC 187. He knows this is his chance to send a strong message to the champion and every other contender at 125 pounds that the beast is back and they should beware.
"I see this as a way I can display a certain level of dominance and annihilation on Zach Makovsky to prove that I'm back and I'm ready for the title. That's what I'm going to sit there and do. If I get a boring win, they're probably going to pass me over. What I want to do is destroy Zach and make everybody scared of me," Dodson said.
"Be that bogeyman that I've been talking about. Be the bogeyman of the 125-pound division that everyone's so afraid of, and then force Demetrious Johnson to fight me."
