UFC’s David Shaw hopes John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz can be rescheduled for UFC 222

The gears are already in motion for John Dodson and Pedro Munhoz to re-book their canceled fight from UFC Belem.

Dodson declined to go on with the scheduled bout after Munhoz came in four pounds over the bantamweight limit at Friday’s weigh-ins.

According to Munhoz, there was an issue with the hot water at the hotel he was staying at that prevented him from using a bath tub to shed the last few pounds necessary to complete his weight cut. He expressed a willingness to fight Dodson as soon as possible.

At the UFC Belem post-fight press conference Saturday, UFC executive David Shaw confirmed that their have already been talks to reschedule the fight for UFC 222.

“That was the hope,” Shaw said. “I think in the conversations that (UFC president) Dana White and (matchmaker) Sean (Shelby) had with John and Pedro, the hope is to move them to UFC 222 in Las Vegas in early March.”

The fight would help to boost the March 3 card that was just decimated by the loss of its main event, a title bout between featherweight champion Max Holloway (who has been forced to withdraw due to injury) and Frankie Edgar.

Shaw was also asked about Dodson’s compensation for successfully weighing in, but not fighting. “The Magician” will reportedly receive a portion of his show money and Shaw offered some clarification on why their may have been some confusion regarding the matter.

“I think it was just a matter of mixed communication from the beginning,” Shaw said. “I think pretty quickly Sean Shelby and Dana came out to say that we’d be giving a portion of the salary to Dodson for making the trip down here and making weight as he committed to doing. It was just a matter of getting out to everybody and making sure that they understood what the situation was on our side.”