One of Demetrious Johnson’s title challengers thinks he’d snatch Alexandre Pantoja’s UFC belt.
Business is booming in the BKFC. The world’s fastest-growing combat sports promotion announced four brand new tournaments at Thursday’s ‘Champions Summit’ press conference, including a $25M open-weight tournament and four ex-UFC signings.
BKFC has been consistent in booking title fights, with an interim flyweight championship between Gee Perez and Andrew Strode co-headlining BKFC 78 on Saturday in Hollywood, FL.
The title stakes came as a surprise to John Dodson, the reigning BKFC flyweight champion who’s undefeated across five fights in the Squared Circle.
Years ago, Dodson was one of the best fighters in the lighter weight divisions, having almost beaten then-champion and all-time great Demetrious Johnson in their first fight in 2013.
Nearly five years removed from his last UFC fight against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in 2020, Dodson still thinks he can hold his own in MMA against the very best in the world.
- READ MORE: BKFC star stripped of title now fighting interim champion in four-man lightweight tournament
John Dodson nonchalantly says he’d knock out UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja
When asked if he still watches the UFC, Dodson said:
“Well, I can go ahead and knock out [Alexandre] Pantoja,” Dodson told MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura.
Pantoja recently notched his fourth-straight title defense at UFC 317 with a flawless submission win over Kai Kara-France. Alexandre Pantoja is riding an 8-fight win streak and is ranked #5 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The submission artist has never been knocked out or submitted in his 35-fight career.
Still, Dodson is confident he can clear Pantoja or his next title challenger, #1 contender Joshua Van.
“That Joshua Van guy, I guarantee you, they wanna talk about somebody who has incredible knockout power… my Filipino power can knock out his Filipino power.”
The 23-year-old Van is 15-2 as a pro and is coming off the biggest win of his career over former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317.
“That door can always be reopened,” the BKFC champ said of a potential UFC comeback.
“I just gotta go ahead and secure my victories, go back out here, put dominant performances in BKFC, and then also go back to Japan and go settle what’s out there, too.”
John Dodson reacts to ‘stupid’ interim title being created while he’s ‘active’ champion
By tomorrow night, there will be two flyweight champions in the BKFC.
The winner of Gee Perez vs. Andrew Strode at BKFC 78 will set up a title unification bout with Dodson in the near future.
Dodson, whose last title defense was a draw more than a year ago, hasn’t fought in BKFC since. Dodson fought Takaki Soya twice under the RIZIN banner in Japan in the time removed.
BKFC boss David Feldman has made it clear how he feels about his champions fighting for other promotions, stripping lightweight champion Franco Tenaglia for taking an MMA fight.
As for Dodson, it looks like BKFC went the alternate route in crowning an interim champion instead of stripping him.
“First of all, I think that’s stupid that they make an interim title that I’m an active champion,” Dodson said at the BKFC press conference on Thursday.
“Like, I’m waiting to fight anybody,” Dodson continued.
“I asked to fight both the guys that are fighting for the title. I’ll go ahead and get the winner…”