UFC flyweight John Dodson is walking into the octagon for his fight with Zach Makovsky with the mindset that he will challenge champion Demetrious Johnson for his title with a victory.

Dodson’s first attempt at dethroning the champion did not go as well as planned. Johnson and Dodson had a five round war at “UFC on FOX” in 2013, but even in his loss Dodson proved he had what it took to at the very least give the champion his best challenge to date.

In a recent interview with MMAJunkie, Dodson claimed he gave Johnson too much respect in their first bout. “The first time I gave him way too much respect. I went out there, went toe-to-toe, and I let him walk away with what was mine,” Dodson said. “That’s my title. He doesn’t deserve to be the champion right now. I am. I deserve to be king of the flyweight division. Not only that, I should be No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter or even No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world.”

While John Dodson is expecting a shot at the title with a victory at UFC 187, he thought he would have had another one sooner. Instead, Kyoji Horiguchi was named the challenger at UFC 186 and it was back to the drawing board for Dodson.

“I thought I was going to fight D.J. for this fight. I was hopeful. I was ecstatic. I wanted to go ahead and crush Demetrious Johnson. But they had to put someone else in front of me, so D.J. catches a little break right quick. He gets to take a little break and see the destruction that’s waiting for him.”

It doesn’t matter if Johnson wants to give Dodson another title shot by the time UFC 187 is wrapped up, however. Dodson is ready to move up in weight and prove he is one of the best fighters in the world— even better than Conor McGregor.

“I think I’m the fastest guy and I think I’m the strongest guy at 125,” Dodson said. “I can knock out anybody at 125 (pounds), 135 – and if Conor McGregor thinks he’s so bad, I’ll take him out too.”

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