Johnson decisions Dodson, keeps flyweight belt
John Dodson hoped he could give his week a Hollywood ending just days after the birth of his first child by taking the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title from Demetrious Johnson on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 191 at MGM Grand.
Instead, the champion followed the same script that has made him one of the longest reigning champions in the organization.
Johnson successfully defended the 125-pound title for the seventh time with a unanimous decision victory over Dodson.
He was quicker in the exchanges, won the transitions and commanded the cage just as he has against all challengers in the division.
"I have the best coaches in the world," Johnson said.
Dodson left Las Vegas on Monday night after participating in promotional activities to be with his girlfriend, who delivered the couple's first daughter, Delilah.
He returned, vowing to complete what he called the best week of his life by ending Johnson's reign and making the division more entertaining.
The fight was never really in doubt, a change from the fighters' first meeting in 2013 when Dodson knocked down Johnson twice early before losing by unanimous decision.
"John Dodson was saying I'm garbage, I'm boring, I'm (bad for) the division and whatever," Johnson said. "But look at my face: I (still) look prettier than a mother-(expletive)."
Johnson won all five rounds on one scorecard and four out of five on the other two.
Andrei Arlovski edged Frank Mir in an underwhelming meeting of former UFC heavyweight champions.
Arlovski had his most success in the first round, landing several big right hands on the Las Vegan. Mir rebounded in the second with an early takedown, but was unable to advance his position and capitalize. When the fighters got back to their feet, Mir continually dropped his hands in an effort to make Arlovski get more aggressive.
Instead, Arlovski remained patient and picked his spots. He did enough in the third round to overcome a knockdown with about three minutes remaining.
It was the sixth consecutive win for Arlovski, including four straight since returning to the UFC. It wasn't, however, the kind of spectacular performance Arlovski hoped could catapult him to a title shot.
"I'm disappointed that it went three rounds, but it's a victory, it's good," Arlovski said. "I definitely underestimated him."
Mir had his winning streak halted after back-to-back first-round knockout victories. The Bonanza High alum disagreed with the verdict.
"I thought I did what it took to win the fight. I had the takedowns and I landed the shots," he said. "I did what it took, just look at his face."
Top light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson bounced back from a title fight loss to Daniel Cormier in May with a second-round knockout of Jimi Manuwa. Johnson landed a right hand that sent Manuwa to the mat and finished the fight with several follow-up shots.
Johnson, who has been under scrutiny for several incidents outside the cage, hopes to get another chance at the belt.
"I want the title and I'm going to keep on fighting until I get it,"Â he said. "Whoever the UFC gives me, I'm going to keep on knocking them down."
Paige VanZant did nothing to slow the Ronda Rousey comparisons, submitting Alex Chambers in the third round with Rousey's signature armbar.
The 21-year-old rising star in the women's strawweight division improved to 3-0 in the UFC with the victory in a fight in which she was barely tested.
"I don't think my dominance is necessarily due to maturity, it's my camp. My first fight, I was new with (Team Alpha Male)," she said. "Over the next few years I just look to keep improving with them and stick with this camp."
Also, light heavyweight Corey Anderson bounced back from his first defeat with a unanimous decision victory Jan Blachowicz.
John Lineker highlighted the preliminary card with a first-round submission of Francisco Rivera in his bantamweight debut.
Lineker had been one of the top contenders at flyweight, but consistently had trouble making 125 pounds. He indicated after the fight he planned on staying at 135.
For a stretch of more than 30 seconds, Lineker and Rivera just swung wildly at each other until Rivera finally dropped. Lineker followed him and choked him out to end the fight.
"I wanted to get in there and just swing away. That's what I like to do, it happened exactly how I wanted it to," Lineker said. "I was surprised I finished it via submission. I'm always looking for the knockout, but the opportunity presented itself and I took it."
Ross Pearson, Joaquim Silva and Tiago Trator all earned split-decision wins on the preliminary card. Joe Riggs was awarded a disqualification win over Ron Stallings when Riggs couldn't continue after an illegal upkick in a middleweight bout.
Former "The Ultimate Fighter" contestant Raquel Pennington avenged a 2014 split-decision loss to Jessica Andrade with a submission victory just before the end of the second round. Pennington locked in a rear naked choke and Andrade tapped out with two seconds remaining.
-- Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him: @adamhilllvrj
