John Dodson after UFC Rio Rancho TKO win: UFC doing a favor using me as litmus test

RIO RANCHO, N.M – UFC on ESPN+ 25 was exactly the type of performance John Dodson was looking for.

Against rising British star Nathaniel Wood, Dodson (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) picked up his first stoppage victory since 2016. A former UFC title challenger, Dodson finished Wood (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) with strikes 16 seconds into Round 3.

“I needed this win,” Dodson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight. “I needed this type of victory. Not only did I get to do it, I got to do it at home. That made it even better for me because I got to do it in front of my hometown and prove to everybody I am a killer. I can come back and do these types of things.”

The win snapped a streak of back-to-back losses but also allowed Dodson to punch his ticket into the win column in front of his hometown fans. For the 10-plus minutes he was in the cage, Dodson felt the energy from the New Mexico faithful.

“It felt amazing, because every time I saw his head rock back, the crowd was cheering on my side knowing that I punished this man with every hard blow I landed,” Dodson said.

Some outside observers might think he’s being used as a stepping stone of late – and Dodson doesn’t view that as a negative if it’s true. According to Dodson, by using him as a litmus test, the UFC is doing him a favor.

“They are doing me a favor, because you keep on seeing how these guys are being propelled throughout the division every single time they beat me,” Dodson said. “… They want to come after me because the fact they know I’m the biggest threat, and I’m going to get the title. For me, I just need to go back and have that mental game in my head. If they say, ‘Hey, if you want the champ, let’s go?’ … I’m ready for it.”

So what’s next for Dodson? The 35-year-old bantamweight doesn’t really care. Whether his next task is a newcomer or a veteran, Dodson said he’ll take on all comers.

“Put somebody in front of me. I don’t turn fights down. Whoever they throw in front of me, whether it be a prospect, an up-and-comer, or a guy who’s a straight-up veteran who’s going to be a monster who thinks he can destroy me and take my pride, my soul is a happy little killer,” Dodson said. “I’m going to be doing it every step of the way with a smile on my face and a grin on my balls.”

UFC on ESPN+ 25 took place Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M. The event streamed on ESPN+. Check out MMA Junkie’s full UFC on ESPN+ 25 post-fight interview with Dodson in the video above.