Can the Mighty Mouse defeat The Magician?

Can the Mighty Mouse Defeat The Magician?

By Jack Ratcliffe Jan 15, 2013

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Two of UFC’s most dynamic fighters go head-to-head at UFC on Fox 6 on January 26th in a battle for the Flyweight Championship. With Demetrious Johnson 1.472* and John Dodson 2.900* considered two of the sports fastest fighters, who will take the belt?

Johnson vs. Dodson Betting – Johnson Favourite to Defend Title

The similarities between the two flyweights are uncanny. Both fighters stand 5’3” tall, both weigh 125lbs, both have a 66” reach and both are incredibly fast.

Beyond the physical attributes, the Mighty Mouse and the Magician even boast a similar fighting style – strike fast and win by decision. Seven of Johnson’s last nine fights have gone the distance (two of which were defeats), while 11 of Dodson’s 19 bouts have relied on the panel.

Despite the fact that Johnson’s widely considered one of the heavier-hitting flyweights, the champion has only won three fights by KO or TKO. The challenger, meanwhile, has finished six fights with a knockout, with two TKOs in his three-match UFC career.

Also on Dodson’s side is the number of significant strikes he lands per minute – 4.53. This dwarfs Johnson’s 3.11, and suggests the challenger could land an extra 36 punches on his rival if the fight went the distance.

With Johnson averaging an absorption rate of 1.92 strikes per minute, this could be a rude awakening for the champion. Dodson’s average strike absorption rate is 3.4per minute, a close match for how many strikes the champ throws.

Despite this advantage, Dodson is 16% worse at landing his blows than the Mighty Mouse, something that could play to Johnson’s favour over the longer, championship-style five-round bouts.

And with Johnson having experienced 25 minutes in the octagon before, tiredness could be an important factor against Dodson.

Johnson vs. Dodson Betting – Other Factors

Aside from striking, Johnson will be able to call upon an array of other moves to defend his title. As a former two-time state champion wrestler, battling on the mat will be an advantage to the 26 year-old, who produces far more takedowns per 15 minutes (3.25) than Dodson (1.13).

Again, the champion is more accurate than his opposite, completing 53% of takedowns compared to his rival’s 33%. The Magician is yet to fall victim to a takedown in the UFC, however.

Submissions rarely fare in contests between two fighters such as Johnson and Dodson as both average 0.1 and 0 submission attempts per 15 minutes respectively.

Both men have won with these techniques, however, with the champ claiming six victories and Dodson at two.

For the best UFC on Fox 6 odds, click here.

*Odds subject to change

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