When it comes to the UFC’s most dominant champions, Demetrious Johnson – 22-2, 4 KOs, 9 SUBS – is right up there with Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones. Now that he’s lapped the field, “Mighty Mouse” will defend the man that gave him his toughest flyweight test to date, the powerful John Dodson – 17-6, 8 KOs, 2 SUBS.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC 191 odds currently have the champion as more than a 4-to-1 favorite, with a money line at -450. The challenger is in heavy underdog territory at +325. Given that flyweight matchups tend to go the distance, I’d expect the total for this five-round championship bout to be set at 4.5 rounds, with the over as the more expensive play.
Don’t forget to check in on fight night for updated prop bets, which include whether the fight will end in a knockout or submission, what round it will end in, and how each man will finish the fight.
JOHNSON & DODSON, PART DEUX
The two first met in January 2013 on a FOX card in Chicago, with Johnson taking a unanimous decision. However, Dodson floored the champion several times in the second round with huge punches in what would become the most competitive test of Johnson’s championship career.
But Mighty Mouse quickly recovered and pulled away from the third round to the final bell. The result showed a remarkable ability to recover, and highlighted the fact that the champ might have the best cardio in all of MMA. It’s like he goes into each fight with a weaponized gas tank.
The rematch marks Johnson’s seventh title defense, having beaten the best in the division, with notches that include names like Joe Benavidez, Ali Bagautinov and Kyoji Horiguchi. It has to be stated that the champ also benefits from competing in one of the thinnest weight classes in the promotion, but no one can deny that he’s in possession of elite all-around skills.
Dodson recently returned from nearly a yearlong layoff due to injury to beat Zach Makovsky at UFC 187. However, the bout was a lot more competitive than many expected. “The Magician” has long been considered the second best fighter at 125 pounds, yet he struggled to beat a solid veteran like Zach Makovsky. Let’s hope that one fight was all he needed to shake off the rust.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
There are few men that are capable of matching Johnson’s speed, but Dodson is one of those guys. Furthermore, the challenger has one-punch knockout power, which is the one tool that the champ lacks and a rarity in the lightest men’s weight class. That kind of power is a great equalizer in any fight.
But power and speed alone is not enough to beat Johnson, who combines world-class wrestling with superb technical striking. What separates him from everyone else is his cardio. Mighty Mouse sets a high pace from the opening bell and retains the same output for five straight rounds. Dodson was able to keep up for two rounds, but was visibly fatigued in the second half of the fight.
Johnson’s all-around skill, coupled with the fact that Dodson could’ve probably used another fight to fully get his rhythm back, makes this an easy pick. Stick with the champ to retain his belt.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson odds. Bookmaker offers daily updates to money lines, over/under, prop bets and more, so make sure to lock in your bets should you find a favorable wager. Their championship bout is scheduled for UFC 191, which takes place Saturday, September 5, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card is set to air on pay-per-view following the prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, Bookmaker updates their odds in real-time, so you can keep betting as each fight unfolds on live television. It’s a great way to hedge your bets should you fall behind. With our mobile platform, it’s never been easier to bet on UFC events.
