John ‘The Magician’ Dodson became the first ever BKFC flyweight champion after a round one TKO over JR Ridge. He made it look easy that night and tends to smoke through his competition with all round one finishes *heading into his BKFC 59 title defense against Dagoberto Aguero. With lightning speed and absolute explosivity, ‘The Magician’ doesn’t hardly get touched by his opponents in the Squared Circle. 

Dodson got his combat career started on the wrestling mat in high school where he became a two-time state champion, one time state runner-up and four time district champion. After massive high school success, Dodson enrolled at the University of New Mexico and worked at Chuck E. Cheese to help support his single mother. He was spotted by Greg Jackson and recruited into the world of mixed martial arts and the rest is history.

Dodson went on to challenge for two UFC titles and win several bonuses for his outstanding performances. Being a natural 125er, Dodson was a bit ahead of his time and couldn’t find many fights at flyweight early on so he fought bigger guys at 135 and 145. He got onto the Ultimate Fighter in 2011 as a bantamweight under Team Miller in the Bisping vs Miller series. In the series finale, Dodson defeated TJ Dillashaw in round one via TKO. 

‘The Magician’ goes on to fight for two flyweight belts against the 125 pound GOAT,  Demetrious Johnson and fell just short both times. His final UFC record was 10-7 (total MMA record of 24-14-0*) before leaving the promotion and running the BKFC flyweight division. He’s defeated the likes of Pedro Muhnoz, Eddie Wineland, Jussier Formiga, Johnny Bedford and much more.

John Dodson’s brother Eric, is a contender in the BKFC featherweight division and both brothers have a similar style of blitzing forward with deadly accurate punches in bunches which overwhelm their opponents early on. Both brothers fight out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.