# John Dodson (fighter)
**John Dodson** (John Thomas Dodson III; born 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer from [Albuquerque, New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/albuquerque-new-mexico), nicknamed "The Magician", who won Season 14 of *The Ultimate Fighter*, twice challenged for the UFC flyweight championship, and later became the first BKFC flyweight champion.[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) • [2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984; United States; fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) • [2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson) |
| Team / division | Jackson-Wink MMA; flyweight (also competed at bantamweight)[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) |
| Physical | Height 5'3" (160.02 cm); reach 66 in (168 cm)[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Dodson-11660) • [2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson) |
| Pro MMA record | 24-15-0; pro debut September 3, 2004; never finished in his career[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) |
| UFC record | 10-7-0, title bouts 0-2-0; debut December 3, 2011, last fight August 15, 2020[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) |
| TUF 14 | Season 14 bantamweight winner; stopped T.J. Dillashaw by first-round TKO on December 3, 2011[5](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2609397/john-dodson) |
| Title challenges | Lost unanimous five-round decisions to Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Fox 6 (2013) and UFC 191 (2015)[4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) |
| BKFC | First ever BKFC flyweight champion; 4-0-1 start in bare-knuckle competition[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/bkfc/484227/john-dodson-laments-long-layoff-after-signing-exclusive-bkfc-deal-when-the-hell-am-i-going-to-get-the-chance-to-fight) |
## Background and early career
Dodson wrestled at Moriarty High School in [New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-mexico), where he won two state championships and four district titles before graduating in 2003; he also competed in football and track.[7](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-John-Dodson-150145) He began training in mixed martial arts in 2002 after being recruited by Chris Luttrell and Greg Jackson, who recognized his potential.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737)
His professional debut came at a Desert Extreme event on September 3, 2004, where he submitted Zac White with a rear-naked choke a little more than three minutes into the first round.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) On the regional circuit he suffered decision losses to fighters including Yasuhiro Urushitani, Mike Easton, and Pat Runez, the latter in a 2009 bid for the Ultimate Warrior Challenge flyweight championship, which he lost by five-round split decision.[9](https://www.ufc.com/news/john-dodsons-fab-five) • [8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) In December 2010 he beat fellow prospect John Moraga by unanimous decision at Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion in the [Dominican Republic](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominican-republic), an event later described as one of the most bizarre in MMA history.[9](https://www.ufc.com/news/john-dodsons-fab-five) • [5](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2609397/john-dodson)
## The Ultimate Fighter
Dodson entered the UFC through *The Ultimate Fighter* Season 14 in 2011, competing as a bantamweight on Team Miller in the Bisping vs. Miller series.[2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson) He beat contestants on the season including Brandon Merkt, John Albert, and Johnny Bedford, whose knockout fans voted "Knockout of the Season", before meeting [T.J. Dillashaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/t-j-dillashaw) in the finals.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) In the finale on December 3, 2011, Dodson stopped Dillashaw in the first round by TKO, landing seven significant strikes per FightMetric, including a massive left hook that buckled Dillashaw and led directly to the finish.[5](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2609397/john-dodson) • [8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) The win earned him the season's six-figure contract and a "Knockout of the Night" bonus.[7](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-John-Dodson-150145) • [8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737)
## UFC career
**Flyweight title challenges.** After a second-round TKO of Jussier Formiga at UFC on FX 5 in October 2012, in which he outstruck the Brazilian 33-9, Dodson earned a shot at [Demetrious Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/demetrious-johnson)'s flyweight title at UFC on Fox 6 in January 2013.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) Early in the fight, the speed and power of the New Mexico product appeared to be too much, as he rocked and dropped "Mighty Mouse" in the first two rounds.[9](https://www.ufc.com/news/john-dodsons-fab-five) • [10](https://www.ufc.com/news/demetrious-johnson-not-releasing-his-grip-flyweight-crown) Johnson recovered, and Dodson lost a five-round unanimous decision; the two men received "Fight of the Night" honors.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) Johnson later called Dodson the toughest test of his reign to that point.[11](https://www.ufc.com/news/two-two-dj-turns-back-dodson-again)
A knee injury sidelined Dodson for about a year after the loss; he returned in May 2015 with a decision over Zach Makovsky and again challenged Johnson at [UFC 191](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-191) on September 5, 2015, at the [MGM Grand Garden Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/mgm-grand-garden-arena) in Las Vegas, losing another unanimous five-round decision.[12](https://www.mmamania.com/2015/9/1/9236979/ufc-191-complete-fighter-breakdown-john-dodson-strengths-weaknesses-flyweight-mma) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218)
**Move to bantamweight.** Dodson returned to the bantamweight division in April 2016 and lost five times in nine appearances at 135 pounds, never regaining his championship-level footing.[4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) His wins in the division included Manny Gamburyan, Eddie Wineland, and [Pedro Munhoz](https://www.edgepedia.org/pedro-munhoz), the last a split decision at [UFC 222](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-222) in which Dodson landed 76 significant strikes to Munhoz's 69.[7](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-John-Dodson-150145) • [8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) His UFC losses, all by decision, came against Demetrious Johnson twice, [Marlon Moraes](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlon-moraes), John Lineker, Jimmie Rivera, Petr Yan, and Merab Dvalishvili, the last at UFC 252 on August 15, 2020.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737) • [1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) As of 2018 he remained the only man to stop T.J. Dillashaw, who later became UFC bantamweight champion.[8](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737)
The UFC released Dodson in September 2020, after a tenure Sherdog described as marked by exhilarating highs and disappointing lows; Sherdog reported his UFC record at the time as 10-6, while FightMatrix lists it as 10-7-0.[4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) • [1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/)
## Fighting style
Dodson is a southpaw who relies heavily on his left hand, throwing little volume and limiting himself to short explosions in the form of a single counter punch or an explosive combination; the power behind those punches lets him afford the patience.[12](https://www.mmamania.com/2015/9/1/9236979/ufc-191-complete-fighter-breakdown-john-dodson-strengths-weaknesses-flyweight-mma) His speed was described as unmatched despite his being a large flyweight, and he uses his wrestling mainly to keep fights on the feet, dropping down for takedowns opportunistically.[12](https://www.mmamania.com/2015/9/1/9236979/ufc-191-complete-fighter-breakdown-john-dodson-strengths-weaknesses-flyweight-mma) His coach Mike Winkeljohn remarked that watching him is "like drinking six Red Bulls".[13](https://www.si.com/mma/2013/01/22/john-dodson-overcame-odds-fight) Durability is a defining trait: across a professional career that reached 33 fights by 2020, he had never been finished, with all 15 of his recorded losses coming by decision.[4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Dodson-11660)
## BKFC and later career
After leaving the UFC, Dodson moved to bare-knuckle boxing with BKFC, where he became the first ever BKFC flyweight champion after a round-one TKO over JR Ridge, and started his bare-knuckle career 4-0-1.[2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson) • [6](https://www.mmafighting.com/bkfc/484227/john-dodson-laments-long-layoff-after-signing-exclusive-bkfc-deal-when-the-hell-am-i-going-to-get-the-chance-to-fight) He also returned to MMA in Japan, fighting for [Rizin Fighting Federation](https://www.edgepedia.org/rizin-fighting-federation), where he knocked out Hideo Tokoro at Rizin 40 in December 2022 and lost decisions to Hiromasa Ougikubo at Rizin 45 and Takaki Soya at Rizin FF - Otoko Matsuri in May 2025.[1](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/) In 2026, BKFC scheduled him for a champion-vs-champion bantamweight main event against Jamel Herring at BKFC 95 in [Newark, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/newark-new-jersey).[14](https://www.bkfc.com/events/bkfc-95-newark) His brother Eric is a BKFC featherweight contender, and both brothers fight out of Albuquerque with a similar style of blitzing forward with accurate punches in bunches.[2](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson)
## References
1. [John Dodson profile, FightMatrix](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/John%2520Dodson/23595/)
2. [John Dodson fighter profile, BKFC](https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/john-dodson)
3. [John "The Magician" Dodson, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Dodson-11660)
4. [UFC Releases 'The Ultimate Fighter' 14 Winner John Dodson, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Releases-The-Ultimate-Fighter-14-Winner-John-Dodson-175218)
5. [John Dodson MMA Fight History, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2609397/john-dodson)
6. [John Dodson laments long layoff after signing exclusive BKFC deal, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/bkfc/484227/john-dodson-laments-long-layoff-after-signing-exclusive-bkfc-deal-when-the-hell-am-i-going-to-get-the-chance-to-fight)
7. [By the Numbers: John Dodson, Sherdog (Feb 22, 2019)](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-John-Dodson-150145)
8. [By The Numbers: John Dodson, Sherdog (Sep 3, 2018)](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-The-Numbers-John-Dodson-141737)
9. [John Dodson's Fab Five, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/news/john-dodsons-fab-five)
10. [Demetrious Johnson: Not Releasing His Grip on the Flyweight Crown, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/news/demetrious-johnson-not-releasing-his-grip-flyweight-crown)
11. [Two for Two - DJ Turns Back Dodson Again, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/news/two-two-dj-turns-back-dodson-again)
12. [UFC 191 complete fighter breakdown, John 'The Magician' Dodson edition, MMA Mania](https://www.mmamania.com/2015/9/1/9236979/ufc-191-complete-fighter-breakdown-john-dodson-strengths-weaknesses-flyweight-mma)
13. [John Dodson overcame just about all of it so he could fight, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/mma/2013/01/22/john-dodson-overcame-odds-fight)
14. [BKFC 95 Newark: Herring vs Dodson, BKFC](https://www.bkfc.com/events/bkfc-95-newark)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Flyweight and strawweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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