Where on Earth does John Dodson get his energy?

Q. What does your strength training consist of? Do you work with free weights, machines or just body-weight exercises?

I like to try to mix it up with a bunch of different things. I like to use free weights, I use machines from time to time and I also do a little bit with bands. I want to challenge my body to become stronger and perform at a peak physical condition, so I can get in there and perform with the best – and be the best.

Q. What do you do to keep your cardio and conditioning at such a high level?

I do a lot of sparring, hardcore wrestling, jiu-jitsu and some free running. People can laugh at me all they want, but I like to tumble. I like to do back handsprings, back flips and things like that.

Q. Are handsprings and front flips a regular part of training?

Oh, yeah. All day. That’s why we have to be ninjas all the time.

Q. What are you working on in the gym to improve on your skill set to be more proficient once the Octagon door shuts?

I am working on improving myself and making sure that I am more of a devastating striker than ever before. I need new tricks. Everybody has seen the things I have thrown in the past, so I need to combine those techniques with other movements to make it easier to execute those moves. If I have to throw a fancy spinning hook kick, or try a takedown here or there, or even throw a submission out there. I will do whatever I have to do to land that devastating strike. 

Q. There has been a shift in attitudes to sparring recently because of head- trauma studies. How often and how hard do you spar?

I just focus on movement and making sure I can get in and out. I want to be as elusive as possible.

Q. What does your grappling training schedule look like?

Destroy everybody and take am arm with me. I don’t have to be nice. I have actually collected more necks than arms.

Q. What does the nutrition part of your fight game puzzle consist of?

Candy! I eat a whole lot of candy. I eat a lot of Skittles and Starburst mostly.

Q. So, all that expendable energy comes from straight sugar?

Of course! That’s how I make weight, too. I take all the advantages of it and burn the rest off.