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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 05: Jussier Formiga prepares to enter the Octagon before his flyweight fight against John Dodson at the UFC on FX event at Target Center on October 5, 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

John Dodson

TRAINING: I work out in the morning, starting my day around 6 AM to warm up with light cardio and strength training. Then I head to the gym at 10:30 for practice with the team. At 12:30 PM I hit mitts or do a private lesson with Greg or Wink. Around 3 PM I do explosive training. I head to the other place gym so that I can teach the future of MMA to be better than me.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in '02. I was working at Chuck E. Cheese at the time and just so happened that I was the birthday host for Chris Luttrell’s son’s birthday. Some of the guys that were there knew me from wrestling and asked where I was planning to go after high school and wrestle. I told them nowhere and then that’s when they invited me to Jackson’s. The rest of the story is what you see now.

What ranks and titles have you held? TUF 14 winner

Do you have any heroes? My hero is my mother. She raised my brother and I to be the men that we are today. Strong, independent, and will never give up on our dreams.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's means a lot to me to fight in the UFC. I could be the best at flyweight in the world, but no one will know my name. I'm trying to have my name written in the stars and not washed away in the sands. Being in the UFC will help me with that.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to the University of New Mexico and studied Criminology. I haven't got my degree yet.

What was your job before you started fighting? I was a Server at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and instructor at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA gym.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Won tons of Grappler Quests back in the day, was a state champion wrestler in high school, went undefeated as amateur in MMA

Favorite grappling technique: Chokes - it doesn't matter what kind, I like them all.

Favorite Striking technique: Jumping head kick