UFC Fight Night 42's John Moraga: John Dodson is most dangerous flyweight

Heading into his second fight since a flyweight title shot, John Moraga believes another recent championship challenger is the toughest in the division – not the champ.

Moraga (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) meets John Dodson (15-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 42, and the two each have recent losses to champ Demetrious Johnson at 125 pounds.

But Moraga told MMAjunkie Dodson is the toughest at flyweight, even more than the champ who has beaten each of them.

“I think he’s the most dangerous guy in the division, for sure,” Moraga told MMAjunkie.

But fighting the guy he believes is the best at flyweight right now is how Moraga sees himself being able to get back to a shot at the belt, which Johnson defends next week at UFC 174 against Ali Bagautinov.

“I see it as a big opportunity to show everybody who I am,” Moraga said. “That’s how I see it. This tells me they have their eye on me, and I’m right there in the mix. But I don’t want to just win. I want to win impressively.”

Moraga beat Dustin Ortiz by split decision in January in his first fight since a loss to Johnson this past July. Dodson knocked out Darrel Montague in October.

Dodson is ranked No. 2, while Moraga is No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA flyweight rankings.

Check out the exclusive one-on-one interview above. Then don’t miss the Moraga-Dodson fight on the main card of UFC Fight Night 42, which takes place Saturday at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M. The main card airs on FOX Sports 1.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.