UFC on Fox 6: Johnson vs. Dodson – Main Card on FOX Preview
By PDG Staff
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This weekend the UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson makes his first ever title defense against the current number one contender and The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner John Dodson in the main event live on FOX when the UFC returns to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson takes on heavy-handed Glover Teixeira in what is expected to be Jackson’s last UFC fight. Rounding out the main card, former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis faces Donald Cerrone and Ricardo Lamas will fight Erik Koch in a featherweight fight that could earn the winner a title shot.
The preliminary portion of the card is on FX and features Clay Guida’s featherweight debut as he battles Japanese star Hatsu Hioki. In heavyweight action, Mike Russow faces Shawn Jordan and Ryan Bader and Vladimir Matyushenko will lock horns in a light heavyweight bout. Surging lightweights T.J. Grant and Matt Wiman in a fight between surging lightweights, Mike Stumpf looks to rebound from a loss as he takes on Pascal Krauss and Rafael Natal versus Sean Spencer will kick off the televised portion of the card. One fight will be on the UFC Facebook page as Simeon Thoresen battles David Mitchell.
Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) vs. John Dodson (14-5)
UFC Flyweight Championship
Demetrious Johnson made the move to the UFC flyweight division after having lost his shot at the UFC bantamweight title. Prior to that, Johnson had previously put together a four-fight win streak, two each in the WEC and the UFC.
In his UFC debut, Johnson outworked Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto to earn a unanimous decision. Johnson then won another decision over former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres. This set up Johnson for his shot at Dominick Cruz’ UFC title, which ended in Cruz’ favor after five rounds.
Following the Cruz fight, Johnson entered the UFC flyweight tournament and fought to a Draw against Ian McCall at UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann. In the rematch, McCall was thoroughly dominated by the speedy Johnson for five rounds and Johnson moved onto the tournament finals where he faced Joseph Benavidez. After a grueling five round fight, that lead to a controversial split decision, Johnson’s hand was raised as he became the inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 4-1-1 (4 Decisions)
Strengths: Speed, takedowns and elusiveness
Weaknesses: Inability to finish his opponents
Key Wins: Joseph Benavidez, Ian McCall, Miguel Torres, Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto, Damacio Page
Notable Losses: Dominick Cruz, Brad Pickett
The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner John Dodson, goes into Saturday night’s title fight riding a five fight win streak dating back to 2009. After losing to Pat Runez back at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 7, Dodson won his next fight under the same promotional banner against relatively unknown Jessie Riggleman.
Following the Riggleman fight, Dodson defeated top ten ranked flyweight John Moraga at Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion by decision before joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter as a part of Team Mayhem. During the show, he defeated three opponents to move onto the finals and also an additional $25,000 for the fan voted “Knockout of the Season”.
At The Ultimate Fighter Finale 14, Johnson knocked out T.J. Dillashaw in the first round to win that season of TUF. Then he faced Tim Elliot, where Dodson cruised to victory in his UFC flyweight debut. Most recently, he secured his standing as the number one contender with an impressive victory over top-ten flyweight Jussier da Silva.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 3-0 (2 TKO)
Strengths: Striking, takedown defense and overall toughness
Weaknesses: Questionable chin and untested off his back
Key Wins: Jussier Formiga, T.J. Dillashaw, John Moraga,
Notable Losses: Mike Easton, Yasuhiro Urushitani
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-10) vs. Glover Teixeira (19-2)
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson enters Saturday’s bout riding a two-fight losing streak and the reality that this fight could be Jackson’s last under the UFC banner. He is coming off losses to Ryan Bader in Japan at UFC 144 and a loss to UFC champion Jon Jones in the PRIDE veteran’s second title venture. Since the start of 2010, Jackson is 2-3 with zero knockouts.
Jackson’s UFC career has definitely been filled with ups and downs as he knocked out Marvin Eastman in his UFC debut, avenging a prior loss and then he knocked out Chuck Liddell in a rematch, earning the UFC title. Jackson’s first, and only, UFC title defense was in a unification bout with former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson. Jackson then lost his title in a decision to Forrest Griffin.
Jackson was able to rebound though with a two-fight win streak with a knockout over nemesis Wanderlei Silva and a decision over Keith Jardine. Jackson then lost a decision to rival Rashad Evans, but was able to secure a split decision over former UFC champion Lyoto Machida and a lackluster decision over The Ultimate Fighter 3′s Matt Hamill.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 7-4 (3 TKO)
Strengths: Great boxing, physically powerful, excellent defense
Weaknesses: Hates training, focus
Key Wins: Chuck Liddell (2x), Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland, Keith Jardine, Ricardo Arona, Ikuhisa Minowa, Marvin Eastman, Lyoto Machida, Matt Hamill, Murilo Bustamante, Igor Vovchanchyn, Kevin Randleman
Notable Losses: Jon Jones, Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, Wanderlei Silva (2), Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Kazushi Sakuraba, Marvin Eastman
Former Shooto South America 220-pound Champion and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Glover Teixeira, will making his third appearance in the Octagon as he looks to extend his current winning streak to 18. Teixeira began his mixed martial arts career back in 2002, losing his professional debut to Eric Swartz in the now defunct WEC.
Since that defeat Teixeira has gone 19-1 with 12 knockouts and five submissions, and not losing a fight since UFC veteran Ed Herman out-pointed him in 2005. Fighting under the WEC, Palace Fighting Championships, Bitetti Combat, Shooto and other promotional banners, Teixeira has become one the most feared light heavyweights in the world.
Teixeira made his UFC debut after finally resolving visa issues that stopped him from entering the US. In that debut at UFC 146, he scored an arm-triangle choke submission victory over Kyle Kingsbury in the first round showcasing the skills that led to UFC officials signing him. In his last fight at UFC 153, he battered Fabio Maldonado into submission with vicious ground n’ pound forcing the cageside doctor to stop the fight following the second round.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 2-0 (1 Sub, 1 TKO)
Strengths: Brutal with GnP from top position, heavy handed and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
Weaknesses: Quality of past opponents
Key Wins: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Joaquim Ferreira, Marvin Eastman, Ricco Rodriguez, Fabio Maldonado, Kyle Kingsbury
Notable Losses: Ed Herman, Eric Swartz
Anthony Pettis (15-2) vs. Donald Cerrone (19-4)
PunchDrunkGamer Match-up of the Night
Anthony Pettis joined the WEC in 2009 with a triangle choke submission against Mike Campbell in under two minutes before losing for the only time in his career against IFL stand-out Bart Palaszewski in a split decision. Pettis rebounded strong with an impressive knockout over Danny Castillo in the first round, starting with a headkick and ending with punches on the mat.
Pettis continued to gain momentum by stopping Alex Karalexis with a second round triangle choke before facing Shane Roller in a number one contender bout. Pettis was put on his back by the stand-out wrestler but managed to secure a fight-ending triangle choke with nine seconds remaining in the bout. In his most recently performance Pettis won a decision over Ben Henderson to become the last-ever WEC champion. With two rounds even going into the fifth round Pettis landed a monster kick after jumping off the fence, dropping Henderson.
Despite not being able to finish his opponent, Pettis’ assault was enough to secure the title and his fourth consecutive victory. Since joining the UFC Pettis is 2-1 losing a unanimous decision to Clay Guida, out-pointing Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 and most recently knocking out Joe Lauzon with a brutal head kick in the first round last February.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 2-1 (1 KO)
Strengths: Counter-striking power, good takedowns and wrestling
Weaknesses: Not a very physically powerful fighter
Key Wins: Joe Lauzon, Jeremy Stephens, Benson Henderson, Shane Roller
Notable Losses: Clay Guida, Bart Palaszewski
Donald Cerrone enters this bout against Pettis looking to gain the number one contender ranking in the UFC lightweight division. Since his loss to Nate Diaz, which ended his six-fight win streak, including four in the UFC, Cerrone has rebounded with two straight wins. At the UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier event, he won a unanimous decision over Jeremy Stephens.
Following the Stephens bout, the Cowboy won ‘Knockout of the Night’ and ‘Fight of the Night’ with his destruction of Melvin Guillard in 1:16. Since joining the UFC, Cerrone has earned other impressive wins over Paul Kelly, Vagner Rocha, Charles Oliveira, and Dennis Siver. In addition to those victories Cerrone has also taken home multiple fight of the night honors (Fight of the Night 3x, Knockout of the Night 2x, Submission of the Night).
During Cerrone’s stint in the WEC, he went 6-3-1. After avenging a previous loss to former WEC champion Jamie Varner, Cerrone won his last WEC appearance over Chris Horodecki by submission.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 6-1 (2 Sub, 2 TKO/KO)
Strengths: Counter-striking power, durability
Weaknesses: Subpar wrestling
Key Wins: Melvin Guillard, Jeremy Stephens, Dennis Siver, Jamie Varner, Paul Kelly, Vagner Rocha
Notable Losses: Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson (2x), Jamie Varner
Erik Koch (13-1) vs. Ricardo Lamas (12-2)
Erik Koch enters Saturday’s bout riding a four-fight win streak, including a knockout over Raphael Assunção in his UFC debut. Due to injuries, this fight will mark Koch’s first time in the Octagon since late 2011 when he defeated The Ultimate Fighter season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins via unanimous decision.
The former high school dropout and Roufusport product began his professional career in 2007 winning his first nine fights including his WEC debut against Jameel Massouh. Prior to the WEC, Koch fought in mainly regional shows which included winning the Mainstream MMA Lightweight Championship and the Midwest Cage Championships 20 Featherweight Tournament.
Koch, who had a 3-1 WEC record, holds notable career victories over T.J. O’Brien, Bendy Casimir, and Tyler Combs.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 2-0 (1 KO)
Strengths: Aggressive striking, good takedown defense
Weaknesses: Injuries, cage rust
Key Wins: Jonathan Brookins, Raphael Assunção, Francisco Rivera
Notable Loss: Chad Mendes
Ricardo Lamas has been fighting under the Zuffa banner (WEC, UFC) since 2009 when he made his WEC debut winning a unanimous decision victory over Bart Palaszewski. Following that fight though, Lamas suffered the first defeat of his career as Danny Castillo knocked him out at WEC 42.
The former Div. III All-American wrestler from Elmhurst College was able to rebound from that defeat as he won his next three fights including a TKO victory over Bendy Casimir and decision victories over James Krause and Dave Jansen. At the final WEC event in December 2010, before the company was swallowed up by the UFC, Lamas lost the second fight of his career as he was knocked out by Yuri Alcantara.
Since making his UFC debut, Lamas has moved down to featherweight and is riding a three-fight win streak including a submission victory over PunchDrunkGamer’s 2012 Featherweight – Fighter of the Year, Cub Swanson.
Quick Stats:
UFC Record: 3-0 (1 KO, 1 Sub)
Strengths: Excellent wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
Weaknesses: Questionable chin
Key Wins: Bart Palaszewski, Cub Swanson, Hatsu Hioki, Matt Grice
Notable Losses: Danny Castillo, Yuri Alcantara
John Dodson: “All The Fans Will See Me KO Demetrious Johnson”
Demetrious Johnson Talks UFC On FOX 6 Main Event
UFC on Fox 6: Johnson vs. Dodson – Fight Card
Main Card (Fox):
Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) vs. John Dodson (14-5) – UFC flyweight title bout
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-10) vs. Glover Teixeira (19-2)
Anthony Pettis (15-2) vs. Donald Cerrone (19-4)
Erik Koch (13-1) vs. Ricardo Lamas (12-2)
Preliminary Card (FX):
TJ Grant (19-5) vs. Matt Wiman (15-6)
Clay Guida (29-13) vs. Hatsu Hioki (26-5-2)
Ryan Bader (14-3) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (26-6)
Mike Russow (15-2) vs. Shawn Jordan (13-4)
Mike Stumpf (11-3) vs. Pascal Krauss (10-1)
Rafael Natal (14-4-1) vs. Sean Spencer (9-1)
Preliminary Card (UFC Facebook):
Simeon Thoresen (17-3-1) vs. David Mitchell (11-2)
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