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John Dodson wasn’t Demetrious Johnson’s choice for UFC 191 opponent

A third straight UFC pay-per-view headliner has resentment to settle

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L.E. Baskow

Flyweight fighter Demetrious Johnson answers a question during UFC 178 media day at the MGM Grand Arena on Thursday, September 25, 2014. .

Tue, Aug 4, 2015 (2 a.m.)

When Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson informed the UFC he next wanted to fight on the pay-per-view scheduled for Sept. 5, the flyweight champion also offered some ideas on how to build the card.

The promotion took none of Johnson’s advice — not even on his own fight.

Johnson suggested undefeated former Olympic wrestler Henry Cejudo for his seventh title defense. The UFC instead booked a rematch with John Dodson, whom Johnson beat by unanimous decision in January 2013, as the main event of UFC 191 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“Sometimes, you need a new story,” Johnson said about his preference for Cejudo. “This story with Dodson, it’s already been done. It’s played with. We already went across that bridge and were successful with it. ... But the UFC has their way of doing things, and Mighty Mouse has his way of doing things.”

The UFC’s methodology is running smooth lately, with back-to-back highly successful pay-per-views. Johnson vs. Dodson II won’t reach the heights of UFC 189 and UFC 190, but their fight does share a common characteristic with the headliners of those two events — pre-fight conflict.

Johnson won’t partake in any Conor McGregor-style theatrics or carry a Ronda Rousey-like vendetta into the octagon, but he doesn’t have anything nice to say about Dodson either. He considered Dodson among the only opponents he’s ever had that he wasn’t friendly with afterward.

“I just don’t care for him,” Johnson said. “I might find him irritating sometimes, and I don’t want to hang out with irritating people. That’s just how I am.”

It’s not difficult to see how the opponents’ personalities may clash. While the champion promoted UFC 190 tickets going on sale last week in Las Vegas and tried to stay cordial concerning his opponent, the challenger made the rounds in Los Angeles with the opposite approach.

Dodson held nothing back in taking aim at Johnson.

“DJ has been a plague in our division, keeping us from our stardom,” Dodson said on Fox Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight.” “We’re the true talent. The lighter classes are more technical, we’re very fast and we have better movement. I’m going to shut him down with power. I did it the first time, and I’ll do it again.”

Dodson is the only fighter to knock Johnson down during the champion’s reign, flooring him with a left hand in the second round at UFC on Fox 6.

Johnson has started revisiting their first fight to scout for UFC 191. Looking back, it’s not the knockdown that surprised Johnson but the aftermath, where he accused Dodson of constantly backing up and not being aggressive enough to take advantage.

“It’s a lot of me chasing him, trying to get to him,” Johnson said.

Dodson followed the loss to Johnson with two knockout victories before suffering a knee injury that kept him out for nearly a year. Johnson was prepared to meet Dodson if he impressed in his comeback at UFC 187 earlier this year.

Dodson only slipped past Zach Makovsky, however, in a unanimous-decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) some thought he lost. Johnson didn’t think it was enough to merit a title shot.

But the champion realizes the Dodson matchup is the more realistic of the two options that fans prefer. Many are clamoring for Johnson to move up and fight bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw in a superfight, but a recent conversation with UFC President Dana White showed a steep financial divide.

Johnson told White he was ready to take the fight for a $2 million purse.

“Dude, I can’t give you what doesn’t come in,” White answered, according to Johnson, who oohed and responded, 'Well, business discussion over. Have a nice day, Dana.'”

Johnson took the rejection in stride. It’s not the only time he hasn’t gotten what he’s wanted.

Seeing Dodson across the cage at UFC 191 will be another.

“That being said, I knew it would happen,” Johnson said of the rematch. “It was inevitable, and here we are.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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