Dumas has shown flashes of real talent. He’s long, athletic, with a strong clinch game and a solid wrestling base when he’s dictating the terms,but the problem is he doesn’t handle it well when the fight gets taken to him. He’s comfortable when he can slowly build his rhythm, pump that jab, and pick his moments to shoot, but when an opponent pressures him early and doesn’t let him get comfortable, his composure starts to slip. That’s exactly the kind of fighter Donte Johnson is. He’s explosive, he’s fast, and he has that snap in his hands that can make Dumas panic once he starts backing up. Johnson’s ability to close distance quickly and make opponents fight off the back foot is what makes him dangerous here.
If Dumas can’t establish his jab early, he’s going to be forced into reactive wrestling. That’s not his strong suit. His takedowns work best when he’s setting them up behind strikes, not shooting out of desperation. Johnson’s reflexes and athleticism make it hard for anyone to shoot clean on him, and he’s shown good instincts defending takedowns and punishing bad entries. That’s where Dumas could really get in trouble. Once Johnson starts finding his range and landing clean, it’s going to force Dumas to abandon his plan and get into survival mode. We’ve seen Dumas get hesitant once he’s touched up, and that’s a bad habit against someone who stays dangerous every second like Johnson.
The difference here is aggression with intent. Johnson doesn’t just pressure to score points, he’s looking for a finish. His speed and power combination is enough to keep Dumas guessing, and every time Dumas tries to reset, Johnson will likely be right back in his face. Over time that type of pace breaks Dumas down, because he doesn’t thrive in chaos; he thrives in control. Johnson’s going to take that control away early, and once the fight starts swinging in his favor, I don’t see Dumas having a reliable adjustment. The wrestling option won’t be there without clean setups, and the striking exchanges favor Johnson heavily once he starts letting his hands go. Expect Johnson to find his mark late in the first or midway through the second round with a big shot that either puts Dumas out.