Johnson vs. Dodson 2: A Complete Guide to UFC 191 Full Fight Card
This is an interesting test case for the flyweight division.
Demetrious Johnson is one of the best MMA fighters on planet Earth. He's currently No. 3 overall in the UFC's official rankings. He's the first and only person to ever wear the UFC's flyweight strap. He's never lost a flyweight fight; the last time he was defeated was four years ago, when then-champion Dominick Cruz bested him in a close bantamweight fight.
The closest anyone has come to dethroning the 125-pound king was in 2013, when a super athlete by the name of John Dodson scored a knockdown on "Mighty Mouse" before the champ ultimately recovered for a decision victory.
This Saturday at UFC 191, the rematch is on.
For months (if not years), Dodson has told anyone with a microphone how boring he thinks Johnson is and how counterproductive Johnson is for a division in need of charisma. And despite Johnson's brilliance in the cage, the fans seem to agree with Dodson, at least if the relevant pay-per-view buys and television ratings are to be believed.
Heading into UFC 191, though, there are signs that Johnson has heard that talk and has turned up the juice on his own talk accordingly. Looks like the Conor McGregor Effect is in full swing over in Demetrious Johnson Land.
So it's a perfect storm at UFC 191: a great fighter, a proven challenger, a justified rematch between two guys working hard to bring heat to the contest, a relatively slow sports calendar over a long weekend, a prime Las Vegas setting.
If the fans don't show up for this one, well, it'll be a sad day for the little guy.
But there's more on the card than just the main event, as interesting as it is. There is intrigue all up and down the 11-fight slate. Here's your complete guide to the action, including information capsules, predictions and viewing coordinates. Please enjoy.
Joaquim Silva vs. Nazareno Malegarie
1 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Joaquim Silva (7-0), Nazareno Malegarie (23-3)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
Come on. These aren't real people. Oh sorry, apparently these are both also-rans from the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. My apologies to all the faithful viewers of that great, great show.
In all honesty, this is one of the reasons why no one cares about TUF anymore. There are no stakes. Every fighter is going to get a shot anyway, unless they miss weight or something, so why bother investing the time and emotion?
Anyway, Malegarie's been around, spending time in Bellator, among other places. Still, this is definitely a coin-flip kind of fight. And...heads it is.
Prediction: Malegarie, unanimous decision
Joe Riggs vs. Ron Stallings
2 of 11
Division: Middleweight
Records: Joe Riggs (40-16), Ron Stallings (13-7)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
It's hard to decide whether Riggs is a cautionary tale or a redemption story. This fight will help us find out.
That's assuming the contest goes down as planned. Since returning to the UFC last year, Riggs has seen one fight postponed because he shot himself in the leg and another pushed off for undisclosed reasons.
He's managed to sandwich an 0-2 record around those two incidents, so it's not looking so great for the shopworn 32-year-old even when he does reach the cage. Until he proves he can still hang at this level, one has to assume Riggs is vulnerable. Stallings has a heavy clinch game and an even heavier overhand left, and that should be enough.
Prediction: Stallings, technical knockout, Round 2
Clay Collard vs. Tiago Trator
3 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Records: Clay Collard (14-6), Tiago Trator (19-5-2)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Collard was originally set to face Team Alpha Male's Andre Fili; Trator should be an easier matchup.
Viewers should expect some standing exchanges in this one. Collard is a kickboxer all the way and doesn't like to look before he leaps.
Trator can bang, too, but he may work for a clinch if he's overwhelmed early. That would be enough to stave off a finish but not enough to outwork or outscore the more active Collard.
Prediction: Collard, unanimous decision
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Jessica Andrade vs. Raquel Pennington
4 of 11
Division: Women's bantamweight
Records: Jessica Andrade (13-4), Raquel Pennington (5-5)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
If Pennington doesn't have that clinch game on point, she could find herself mat-ward pretty doggone fast, thanks to either a takedown or Andrade's swarming strikes.
Let's say Pennington is able to get that done, and that's not so far-fetched. After all, at 5'7" tall and with a 67.5" reach, Pennington has significant size edges on Andrade (5'2" and 62"). Even if she does, it won't be enough. Andrade is a better fighter, and she'll continue to prey on these TUF castaways.
Prediction: Andrade, technical knockout, Round 2
Francisco Rivera vs. John Lineker
5 of 11
Division: Bantamweight
Records: Francisco Rivera (11-4), John Lineker (25-7)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Your Fight of the Night dark horse, right here.
Other than the fact that either of these guys can knock the engine block out of a '64 Impala, the intrigue here is Lineker's bantamweight debut, being made somewhat against his will after his repeated inability to cut down to flyweight.
Rivera recovered from two straight losses with a 21-second knockout of Alex Caceres. Will Lineker carry that huge power with him up to bantamweight? He won't be huge at this division, so there's a chance that Rivera will be able to keep him at bay. They'll trade some big shots (especially Lineker, who has radar lock on his opponent's jaw), but it will come down to points. Rivera is bigger and more diverse in his striking, so give the nod to Cisco and sound the (mild) upset alarms.
Prediction: Rivera, unanimous decision
Ross Pearson vs. Paul Felder
6 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Ross Pearson (17-9), Paul Felder (10-1)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Felder is the new Joe Lauzon, the guy the UFC throws into the lightweight breach whenever they need a slobberknocker. This spot, the preliminary main event, is one of those times.
It's not an empty distinction; who hasn't enjoyed Felder's recent rocket ride to notoriety on the heels of some spinning-stuff classics with Edson Barboza and Danny Castillo?
He'll deliver again against Pearson, who has a fun power boxing game but isn't overly dynamic with his footwork or head movement.
This will be a terrific scrap, and though it won't be finished, it might get close once or twice. Felder will sway the judges with flashy combinations.
Prediction: Felder, unanimous decision
Paige VanZant vs. Alex Chambers
7 of 11
Division: Women's strawweight
Records: Paige VanZant (5-1), Alex Chambers (5-2)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Welcome, VanZant fans. We're glad you're here.
The UFC's glad, too. That must be why they teed up an easy victory for her to kick off this pay-per-view.
I don't mean to dis Chambers too much; the affable Australian is a standout jiu-jitsu player. But let us also be frank with one another: Chambers is 36 years old, and this isn't a grappling tournament.
VanZant should be able to dervish her way to another win, hitting Chambers with the kitchen sink and scrambling out of any trouble that may arise on the ground.
Prediction: VanZant, technical knockout, Round 2
Jan Blachowicz vs. Corey Anderson
8 of 11
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Jan Blachowicz (18-4), Corey Anderson (5-1)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Remember when Blachowicz was considered a blue-chip prospect? The bloom came off that rose pretty quickly.
The UFC will do that to you. You know who else can tell you about that? Anderson. After plowing through a season of TUF, the wrestle-boxer met reality when he lost by knockout to Gian Villante.
Anderson is powerful as a wrestler and in the clinch, but Blachowicz is pretty strong, too, not to mention having a more balanced skill set, especially when the action is in space. I'm not exceptionally confident in either man, but I'll hand benefit of the doubt to the more experienced veteran.
Prediction: Blachowicz, unanimous decision
Anthony Johnson vs. Jimi Manuwa
9 of 11
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Anthony Johnson (19-5), Jimi Manuwa (15-1)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Is it just me, or does Johnson seem headed for a letdown here?
He's a heavy favorite, and with good reason, given that he's probably the most powerful striker in the entire UFC right now. But he's had kind of a tough go of it lately, what with Daniel Cormier again exposing his shallow gas tank and the counseling he's now receiving for his mistreatment of that gym customer and so on.
I'm not saying he should be viewed as a sympathetic figure, but it might translate to a flat Rumble this Saturday. Plus, Manuwa, a boxer with crazy punching power of his own, is not a dumb fighter. Though he knows why he's here—it rhymes with bugfest—he might try to drag this into later rounds, where Johnson tires and weakens.
It may all be lining up for a surprise upset. But I'm just not gutsy enough to call it. I suck.
Prediction: Johnson, technical knockout, Round 1
Frank Mir vs. Andrei Arlovski
10 of 11
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Frank Mir (18-9), Andrei Arlovski (24-10)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Both of these guys have glass jaws at this advanced stage of their respective careers. At the same time, both are enjoying great resurgences. Something, as they say, has got to give.
I'm saying that will be Mir's jaw. He is a great grappler, yes, but he hasn't shown a ton of enthusiasm about taking a fight there recently. He'll try to bang it out with Arlovski, and he will pay.
Prediction: Arlovski, technical knockout, Round 2
Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson
11 of 11
Division: Flyweight
Records: Demetrious Johnson (22-2-1), John Dodson (17-6)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Dodson definitely has the proverbial puncher's chance. He caught Johnson last time, and he can do it again. Behind Johnson, he's probably the fastest fighter on the UFC roster and is most likely second to none when it comes to punching power in the flyweight division.
And yet a puncher's chance is all it is. Johnson is a master at controlling distance with his peerless footwork and has a preternatural knowledge for timing strikes and takedowns. He'll string Dodson out over the course of several rounds and, while Dodson has a deep gas tank, Johnson's is on a level of its own.
The scary part is Mighty Mouse might be most comfortable in the grappling phase. Sooner or later, that's where he'll get it. He'll get a good position and exploit it. He undoubtedly wants the finish, and it'll eventually happen, no matter how many fans are watching.
Prediction: Johnson, submission, Round 4
Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more stuff like this, follow Scott on Twitter.
All fighter records courtesy of Sherdog.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
