John Dodson, the undisputed flyweight champion in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), has recently turned heads with a strikingly confident declaration aimed squarely at the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship`s (UFC) flyweight division. Despite having competed outside the UFC octagon for several years, `The Magician,` known for his explosive speed and knockout power, firmly believes he still possesses the capability to defeat the world`s best should he make a return to mixed martial arts.
Dodson didn`t mince words when discussing the current landscape of the UFC flyweight class. He specifically singled out reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja, expressing a strong conviction that he could land the decisive blow to knock him out. This is a particularly audacious claim, given Pantoja`s formidable track record. The Brazilian champion has competed in 35 professional fights and has never once been stopped by either strikes or submission. Dodson`s confidence extends beyond the champion; he also named the highly-regarded number one contender, Joshua Van, as another fighter he is certain he could defeat via knockout. Van, a powerful young striker himself, is widely anticipated to be the next challenger for Pantoja`s coveted belt.
Dodson`s belief in his knockout power isn`t unfounded. He boasts a perfect 5-0 record in BKFC, with every single victory coming by way of knockout. Before his bare-knuckle venture, Dodson had a significant career in the UFC, where he twice challenged the legendary Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title and secured notable wins. His last appearance in the UFC dates back to 2020.
Interestingly, while Dodson is setting his sights on potential high-profile clashes in the UFC, his situation within his current promotion presents a peculiar dynamic. Despite being the recognized BKFC flyweight champion, the organization recently announced plans for an interim title fight in his division. Dodson, who has not competed under the BKFC banner in over a year (though he has been active in RIZIN during this period), publicly voiced his bewilderment regarding this decision. He frankly described the move to crown an interim champion while he remains the active titleholder as “stupid.” This creates a somewhat ironic backdrop to his aspirations of challenging the top fighters in another major promotion.
Despite this internal situation, Dodson indicated that the possibility of a return to the UFC remains open. He stated that the “door can always be reopened,” implying that continued success and dominant performances in both BKFC and RIZIN could serve as a pathway back to the global stage of MMA. For now, his focus appears to be on continuing his winning ways in his current fighting homes, using them as potential springboards for future opportunities, possibly even a return to challenge the very best the UFC has to offer.
