UFC 191 results: Demetrious Johnson beats John Dodson by unanimous decision

UFC 191 takes place Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, headlined by a UFC flyweight title bout pitting champion Demetrious Johnson against challenger John Dodson. In the co-feature, Frank Mir and Andrei Arlovski finally meet after circling each other for a decade as two of the sport's top heavyweight competitors.


UFC Flyweight Title: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson

Johnson is one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world but has done little to capture the public's imagination in the weak flyweight division. He defeated Dodson previously in a fight that was the closest of Johnson's championship reign, but not that close. Dodson has a 17-6 MMA record with his only loss since 2009 coming to Johnson.


Round 1. Dodson comes out fast with some punches that don't connect and a body kick. Johnson gives Dodson a few different looks as far as his posture early on. Johnson lands a right hook and shoots for a takedown but Dodson stuffs that. Johnson clinches and lands a couple of knees to the body. Johnson shoots in and grabs a single leg. He can't get the takedown but does hold the leg to land a punch before breaking. Johnson tries for another takedown and again doesn't get it. 10-9 Johnson.

Round 2. Johnson throws a head kick early. That's something he has looked for a number of times throughout the fight. Dodson catches a kick, lands a few punches, and gets a takedown. He lands a few punches but then lets Johnson up, something that may have been a mistake. Johnson lands a punch and catches a kick himself, looks to take Dodson down. He can't get it and backs off. Johnson darts in with a right hand and lands a knee from the clinch by the cage. Dodson throws Johnson down but then backs off. 10-9 Johnson.



Round 3. Johnson grabs a single leg again and uses it to land some offense even though he can't get a takedown. Johnson is now strolling confidently while Dodson just isn't effective in his offense. He leaps in with some punches but Johnson ducks out with ease and then moves right back in looking for shots of his own. Johnson lands a good 2 punch combination. Johnson looks for a takedown but Dodson blocks it. Johnson gets a takedown late. Dodson stands up but Johnson takes him back down. Dodson gets up a second time and they return to the feet as the round comes to an end. Johnson runs in with a flying knee at the close but gets caught with a counter punch. 10-9 Johnson.



Round 4. Johnson charges in with punches that land early. Dodson tries to answer with offense of his own but whenever he throws a shot, Johnson just backs right out of danger and then moves right back in for offense of his own. Dodson may be faster in an absolute sense but Johnson is much, much better at controlling the range of the fight. 10-9 Johnson.


Round 5. Johnson lands a straight right hand early, one of his best blows of the fight. Johnson clinches and lands a knee to the body. Johnson gets a takedown less than two minutes in. Dodson returns to his feet, eats a knee to the head, and backs off. Johnson shoots in and grabs the familiar single leg again late. He slams Dodson down hard but Dodson quickly gets up. Johnson lands a hard straight punch back on the feet. Dodson connects with a left hand and then a knee to the head. They clinch with 30 seconds left. The fight comes to an end. Johnson walks away from Dodson confidently while Dodson raises his hands as if he won. 10-9 Johnson, 50-45 Johnson.



Winner: Demetrious Johnson, unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45).

SOURCE: LOS ANGELES TIMES