It’s been quite a year for John Dodson.

“The Magician” burst onto the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship scene with a 40-second KO in his Squared Circle debut last August. He followed that up with a first-round KO over former BKFC champ Jarod Grant at KnuckleMania 3 in February. The former UFC title challenger also briefly returned to the MMA cage, winning by first-round KO in Japan on New Year’s Eve.  

Now, in the BKFC 48 Main Event on Aug. 11 in Dodson’s hometown of Albuquerque, NM, he’ll challenge JR “The Lion” Ridge (3-1, 2 KOs) for the inaugural BKFC World Flyweight Championship – less than a year removed from his jaw-dropping debut.

If Dodson’s being honest, he admits he thought he’d already have the BKFC belt around his waist. But that’s not the case, so he says Ridge, the division’s No. 1 contender, is nothing more than a stepping stone for the former UFC standout.

“More power to him; he stepped up to the plate knowing he’s nowhere near my league,” Dodson says of Ridge. “I’m faster than he is, I hit a lot harder than he does, and I constantly put the pressure on everybody I fight.”

Dodson predicts a third straight, first-round stoppage victory this summer, and that he’ll leave the Squared Circle as the first ever BKFC World Flyweight Champion. His resume is already packed with impressive credentials, but Dodson says taking home this belt will be extremely special for him. Bare knuckle fighting is a family affair for Dodson – his brother, unbeaten BKFC featherweight Eric Dodson, will also try to climb to 3-0 in the Squared Circle at BKFC 48. 

“I came to BKFC to become a champion, and this is going to inspire my brother to chase that dream as well,” Dodson says. “I want my brother to have a belt as well. With us both being in the same organization, it will only be fitting that we’re both champions.”