Pregnant girlfriend uniquely ‘inspires’ UFC flyweight Dodson

The fact John Dodson's girlfriend was due to deliver the couple's first child just days after he is scheduled to fight Demetrious Johnson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 191 at the MGM Grand Garden could have served as a distraction for the challenger.

Instead, Dodson saw the timing as nothing but a positive.

That feeling extends beyond the cliched notion of becoming a father serving as motivation to succeed in the workplace in order to provide a better life for his new daughter.

Sure, the 30-year-old native of Albuquerque, N.M., wants that and will use it as a driving force. But he also believes there's a more practical way having a pregnant girlfriend has helped him prepare to win on Saturday night.

"All the aggression and emotions she's been putting on to me, I can channel that frustration into whupping his ass," Dodson said. "I have to deal with a woman at home who is pregnant and pissed going through all those hormones and everything. I have to deal with it daily and (Demetrious) is catching an ass-whupping for that."

The baby, which Dodson plans to name Delilah Sky, was due on Sept. 9. Plans changed late Monday, however, when Dodson posted on social media that his girlfriend Chelsea had gone into labor and he was returning from Las Vegas to Albuquerque to be by her side.

He is expected to return in time to fight Johnson on Saturday night. Dodson said he anticipates the best week of his life.

"Both are life-changing moments," he said of winning the belt and becoming a father. "It's two different emotions and I get to have them at the same time. It will be like a perfect moment of bliss."

Of course, that will require beating Johnson in a rematch of Dodson's only UFC loss. Johnson was awarded a unanimous decision in January 2013, a fight Dodson still believes he won.

He plans on being more thorough in the rematch.

"I want to make it so his face is unrecognizable," Dodson said. "I want to beat him so bad he won't want to ever fight me again."

The pay-per-view event, which also features a heavyweight bout between Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir, begins at 7 p.m. with the first preliminary card fight beginning at 4.

* UFC CLEARS BROWNE — After what UFC officials called an independent third-party investigation into allegations from his estranged wife of domestic abuse, heavyweight Travis Browne has been reinstated by the organization.

Browne was suspended indefinitely in July after Jenna Renee Webb posted pictures on social media of physical damage she claimed was caused by Browne.

"Conducted by a former FBI agent with more than 25 years of experience, the seven-week investigation included interviews with multiple subjects associated with the principals, as well as the principals themselves." a statement from the organization read. "The investigation found inconclusive evidence to support claims of alleged domestic violence involving Browne and inconclusive evidence that Browne had violated the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy.

"UFC takes allegations of domestic violence very seriously, and they will be investigated for their validity. If proven true with facts, it will result in swift action on our part."

Browne released his own statement on the matter.

"This two-month period has taught me that strength truly does come from within. Sometimes saying nothing requires more strength than saying everything. I made a conscious choice to keep quiet, comply and put my faith in the organization that has provided an amazing life for me and my family," Browne said. "They were forthright and honest from the beginning in stating that they took these allegations extremely seriously and were on a mission to get to the truth."

Not surprisingly, Webb disagreed. She said the investigation was biased and told womensmma.com she plans to now press charges against Browne in California.

"I told them the truth, I gave them photos, I gave them a dated and detailed journal, and how they came up with those results is beyond belief," she said. "The investigator got this info and helped the UFC come to this conclusion. My family and I are totally baffled. They have more money than we do. They appear to be the winners. We believe that in the end truth prevails."

Browne does not yet have a fight scheduled for his return to action.

* STRAWWEIGHT BOUT SET — UFC women's strawweight contenders Tecia Torres and Michelle Waterson have agreed to fight at UFC 194 on Dec. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden, sources close to the organization confirmed Monday.

Waterson, the former Invicta atomweight champion known as "The Karate Hottie," successfully made her UFC debut with a submission of Angela Magana in July.

Torres has decision wins over Magana and Angela Hill since competing on "The Ultimate Fighter." She is 6-0 in her career.

UFC 194 features a pair of title fights. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will take on interim champ Conor McGregor in a unification bout. Also, Chris Weidman will defend the middleweight belt against Luke Rockhold.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.