Two different aircraft built decades apart. Yes the F16, F18 and the even the F15 are incredible dog fighting aircraft, the difference is the F35 wasn't designed to be a pure fighter and dog fighting aircraft. The F35 like the F117 is designed to be a stealth aircraft that isn't going to be seen until the last moment when the enemy suddenly realizes that he has multiple incoming air to air missiles locked onto his aircraft. He will have no idea where they came from because the F35 that launch them twenty to thirty miles out isn't visible on his radar.  The same will be true with ground targets all of a sudden seconds from impact a missile will appear on their radar. They will have no idea where the aircraft that launched the missile came from or is located.