Pros React to John Lineker’s Split Decision Win Over John Dodson

By Tom Taylor - October 2, 2016

Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s return to Portland, Oregon, John Lineker and John Dodson engaged in a memorable, five-round battle. Over the course of the fight, which was contested entirely on the feet, both brick-fisted bantamweights had their moments.

In the end however, Lineker walked away with a hard-fought split decision – an outcome that is likely to be debated for some time.

John Lineker wins

In the moments after the fight, many of the game’s top fighters took to Twitter to offer their thoughts on the affair. While many of these fighter reactions were positive, the majority were not, as many took issue with the judges’ decision and suggested it should have gone the other way.

https://twitter.com/nickdiaz209/status/782453073109061633

https://twitter.com/EdgarGarcia170/status/782451764092104704

Some fighters also took issue with Dodson’s game plan, which relied heavily on footwork and circling away from the forward-charging Lineker. This strategy drew the ire of one Nick Diaz in particular, who was infamously foiled by a similar strategy from Carlos Condit back in 2012.

With this outcome, which is clearly not a popular one among many fighters, Lineker moves to 4-0 as a bantamweight, having bested Francisco Rivera, Rob Font, Michael McDonald, and now Dodson since moving up to the division from flyweight.

Dodson, meanwhile, is now 1-1 since making his own move from flyweight to bantamweight, having debuted in the division with an abrupt TKO win over Manny Gamburyan. That said, the two-time flyweight title contender is unlikely to lose much ground in the division, given the competitive and debatable nature of his this decision loss to Lineker.

Who do you think won Portland’s main event? Did you agree with the decision? Sound off in the comments, PENN nation!


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John Lineker