Former UFC standout John Dodson will join the stacked Rizin 40 card on New Year’s Eve.
Dodson (22-13) will take on Hideo Tokoro (35–31–2) in a flyweight bout on Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo, promotion officials announced Wednesday. The main card will air in the U.S. on Showtime as a joint Rizin vs. Bellator event.
＼湘南美容クリニック presents／
🔥#RIZIN40 追加対戦カード🔥所英男 @tokorodays
🆚
ジョン・ドッドソン @JohnDodsonMMA📅：12.31(土) 13:30開始(予定)
🏟：さいたまスーパーアリーナ
📝：https://t.co/1TgCLzAzCI pic.twitter.com/aS5mqH7QRA— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) November 17, 2022
Dodson, 38, was last seen in action in the bare-knuckle ring. The former UFC title challenger made his BKFC debut against fellow octagon veteran Ryan Benoit in the co-main event of BKFC 28. It took Dodson just 40 seconds to dispatch of Benoit. Dodson’s last MMA appearance came over another UFC alum in Francisco Rivera, whom he defeated by unanimous decision at XMMA 4: Black Magic in April.
Tokoro, 45, has fought across various major organizations including Dream, Bellator and Rizin. The Japanese veteran, who battled Royce Gracie to a draw in 2005, holds notable wins over Brad Pickett and Royler Gracie.
The current Rizin 40 lineup includes:
- A.J. McKee vs. Roberto de Souza
- Patricio Freire vs. Kleber Koike
- Juan Archuleta vs. Kim Soo Chul
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs Hiromasa Ougikubo
- Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Koji Takeda
- Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Junior Tafa
- Naoki Inoue vs. Kenta Takizawa
- Yuki Motoya vs. Rogerio Bontorin
- John Dodson vs. Hideo Tokoro
- Luiz Gustavo vs. Johnny Case
- Noah Bey vs. Sho Patrick Usami
