Ali Akbar RosadyJohn Dodson, the reigning Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) flyweight titleholder and a decorated Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, has publicly expressed profound frustration over a prolonged period of inactivity since signing an exclusive agreement with BKFC. Dodson, known for his explosive fighting style and "The Magician" moniker, claims he has been unable to secure a fight date or an opponent despite holding the promotion’s coveted flyweight belt. His last bout under the BKFC banner took place in March 2024, meaning May 2025 marks a full year since he last competed.
Dodson’s bare-knuckle career began with an impressive surge, establishing a formidable record of 4 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw (4-0-1), a run that culminated in him capturing the inaugural BKFC flyweight championship. This success followed a distinguished tenure in mixed martial arts, predominantly with the UFC, where he notably won The Ultimate Fighter season 14 bantamweight tournament and twice challenged Demetrious Johnson for the UFC Flyweight Championship. His transition to bare-knuckle fighting was met with considerable anticipation, and he quickly proved his aptitude for the sport, leveraging his exceptional speed, power, and elusive movement.
The current predicament traces back to July 2024, when Dodson attended a BKFC champion summit in Florida. It was during this event that BKFC extended an offer for an exclusive contract, a move that would solidify Dodson’s commitment solely to bare-knuckle fighting, ending his previous arrangement of splitting his time between BKFC and RIZIN Fighting Federation in Japan. Dodson had been actively competing across both promotions, maintaining a busy schedule that he valued for keeping his skills sharp and his career momentum going.
"Bare-knuckle is the one who signed me [to] a new contract saying that I can’t fight for any other promotions," Dodson informed MMA Fighting, detailing the contractual obligations that now bind him. He added, "So I’ve been waiting for them to go ahead and give me my next victim." The exclusive deal, signed after his last RIZIN appearance, stipulated that he could not engage in any other combat sports disciplines, including mixed martial arts, boxing, jiu-jitsu tournaments, or even professional wrestling, without vacating his BKFC title. This comprehensive restriction, Dodson suggests, effectively places him in a state of professional limbo.
Related News :
- UFC 323: Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili Set to Defend Title Against Petr Yan in Highly Anticipated Las Vegas Showdown.
- Dvalishvili Defends Bantamweight Title with Dominant Grappling Display Against Sandhagen at UFC 320
- UFC 321: Ciryl Gane Faces Definitive Test to Reclaim Heavyweight Legitimacy and Silence Critics
- Ryan Garcia Secures WBC Welterweight Championship with Decisive Victory Over Mario Barrios, Issues Challenge to Shakur Stevenson.
- Post-UFC Qatar Analysis: Tsarukyan Stakes Lightweight Claim, Garry Ascends Welterweight Ranks
The situation escalated dramatically during the same champion’s summit. Dodson recounted his dismay at being compelled to witness the inaugural interim flyweight world championship fight unfold. He had actively sought to compete against both individuals involved in that bout, only to be reportedly told by BKFC officials that neither contender was deemed "ready" for him. "They forced me to watch the inaugural flyweight interim world champion fight happen, which pissed me off, because I asked to fight both those guys and they told me neither one of them were ready for me," Dodson stated.
Following that interim title clash, one of the participants, Andrew Strode, subsequently vacated his claim, while the other, Gee Perez, has remained active within the promotion. This sequence of events has only intensified Dodson’s bewilderment and frustration. "I got a winner and then OK cool, I’m going to fight one of these dudes, I thought I was going to fight the winner," Dodson lamented. "Andrew [Strode] vacated the title and then Gee [Perez] has been fighting left and right so I’m like yo, when the hell am I going to get the chance to fight?" The establishment of an interim title, ostensibly to ensure divisional activity in the absence of the champion, appears to have paradoxically led to the champion’s prolonged sidelining.
The demand for an exclusive contract came at a pivotal moment in Dodson’s career. "Right after my last RIZIN fight, I went out there and we signed a new deal and they sat there and said I can’t have any other outside fights," Dodson explained. "I can’t go back to mixed martial arts. I can’t do anything else because if I do, I vacate the title. That’s why they sat there and made an interim champion, I guess. I was like, no, I was waiting for you guys to give me a call, waiting for me to go ahead and step up." Despite the restrictive terms, Dodson expressed his readiness to fully commit to bare-knuckle fighting, valuing the opportunity to compete and defend his title. His primary motivation, he asserts, is simply to fight: "I don’t care where I fight. I just want to get back into the squared circle and knock somebody out so we can get moving forward in this next process after this."
At 41 years old, Dodson is acutely aware of the finite nature of a professional combat sports career. While he maintains he feels "great and staying ready to compete," the passage of time without active competition is a significant concern. The extended layoff not only prevents him from earning, but also from maximizing the remaining prime years of his athletic life. His desire to "stay busy" is rooted in the understanding that he "can’t fight forever," and he fears his remaining years in the sport are being "wasted."
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this contractual entanglement for Dodson is the stream of opportunities he has been forced to decline. Numerous promoters from various combat sports disciplines have approached him, inquiring about his availability. RIZIN, his former MMA home, extended an offer for another mixed martial arts fight. Boxing promotions have sounded him out for potential bouts. Other organizations have also expressed interest. However, due to the comprehensive nature of his exclusive BKFC contract, Dodson has been unable to pursue any of these avenues.
"I could be active right now because of the fact that everybody’s asked me to come back," Dodson stated, emphasizing the breadth of his appeal across combat sports. "Even RIZIN’s asked me to go out there, to go do a mixed martial arts fight out there. I’ve had some boxing promotions ask me if I want to go ahead and box. I’ve have other organizations and other things come up to me and say, ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing it?’ and I don’t know how it conflicts with my bare-knuckle contract." He further elaborated on the contract’s broad restrictions: "It kind of sucks because in any realm of combat sports, which it says in the contract, that I can’t do any other combat sports, there’s a lot of things that it says. That’s guidelines for everything. I can’t do jiu-jitsu tournaments. I can’t do pro wrestling. I can’t do a lot of things because of the fact that I’m locked in and waiting for them to go ahead and give me the green light to go beat up somebody."
Despite his profound dissatisfaction with the current situation, Dodson maintains that he has largely enjoyed his experience with BKFC and his transition into bare-knuckle fighting until this recent period of inactivity. His core desire remains to be an active, fighting champion, a goal he feels is currently being thwarted by the promotion.
Dodson’s public comments highlight a common tension in professional sports between athletes seeking active careers and organizations managing their rosters and event schedules. While BKFC has rapidly grown in prominence since its inception in 2018, attracting many former UFC fighters and generating significant fan interest, the challenge of maintaining consistent activity for all its champions and top contenders can arise. The promotion has made strides in expanding its global footprint and event frequency, as evidenced by the mention of its ambitious "world’s baddest man" and "world’s baddest bitch" tournaments, which Conor McGregor’s presence at the summit further amplified. However, from Dodson’s perspective, this broader organizational momentum has not translated into personal opportunity.
"Apparently they can do whatever they want with me and pretty much [hold me] as a hostage," Dodson asserted, conveying the depth of his frustration. He acknowledges the delicate balance of speaking out against his promoter, stating, "Because I need to go ahead and figure this out. This is frustrating. Because I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want to sit there and talk a bunch of crap about an organization because we already know how that goes. The more shit talking you do about an organization, they’re just going to postpone you having a fight ever."
Dodson concludes by emphasizing his role as a champion and a promoter of the BKFC brand. "They’re not doing me a favor because I’m literally holding their belt. I’m promoting them. I’m showcasing how the flyweights should be interacting with the rest of the world by going out and doing all these public events and talking to people and showcasing I’m their champion. Why can’t they take care of their champion?" As May 2025 progresses, the bare-knuckle community awaits BKFC’s response to their flyweight champion’s plea for a return to the squared circle.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMAApril 23, 2026BKFC Flyweight Champion John Dodson Decries Year-Long Layoff Post-Exclusive Deal Signing
MMAApril 23, 2026Wembanyama Out with Concussion, NFL Draft Board Finalized, and Bulls See Coaching Change Amidst Women’s Hoops Shake-Up
MMAApril 22, 2026Combat Sports Icon Nate Diaz Confirms MMA Return Against Mike Perry on Blockbuster MVP Card- MMAApril 21, 2026London Prepares for Unbeaten Featherweight Showdown: Evloev vs. Murphy at UFC Fight Night, Expert Picks Analyzed
rifan muazin
Jonas Leo
Anshari Taslim