UFC on FOX 19's John Dodson: Fighting Dillashaw would be great so I could KO him again

TAMPA, Fla. – Naturally, John Dodson thinks he’s ready for an immediate title shot against champ Dominick Cruz now that he’s successfully returned to the UFC bantamweight division.

But if they decide to instead give him a rematch with the guy who used to hold the belt – T.J. Dillashaw – that would be “awesome,” Dodson (18-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) said after a 47-second TKO stoppage of Manny Gamburyan (15-9 MMA, 6-7 UFC) at UFC on FOX 19.

Dodson cackled when asked if he’d like another fight with Dillashaw, whom he knocked out five years ago to win “The Ultimate Fighter 14” reality show tournament.

“Then that (expletive) can stop saying it was a fluke that I knocked his ass out,” said Dodson, who won on the UFC Fight Pass-streamed prelims ahead of the rest of the card on FOX at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

It’s a stretch to get an ex-champ after just one fight at bantamweight, to which Dodson migrated after a long sting at flyweight, where he ultimately fell short in two title attempts against champ Demetrious Johnson.

But maybe the timing is right. Dillashaw is unbooked after waiting for a rematch with Cruz, who outpointed him in January to reclaim the belt.

“The guy actually held a title,” Dodson said. “I want to show everybody that since he got the opportunity to hold the title, I could beat the guy that had it, again.”

Check out the above video to get Dodson’s thoughts on his ideal fight and a rematch with Dillashaw.

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 19, check out the UFC Events section of the site.