UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson
Encyclopedia
UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
on October 1, 2011 at the Verizon Center
in Washington D.C.
was expected to face Aaron Rosa
in a light-heavyweight bout, but was pulled from the card due to an injury. A replacement was being sought but this fight was scrapped.
Jeff Hougland
was expected to face Mike Easton
in a Bantamweight bout, but has been injured and replaced by UFC newcomer Byron
Bloodworth.. Bloodworth failed to make the 135 pound weight limit, thus the match was changed to a Catchweight bout, with Bloodworth being fined for the infraction.
With Fox
taking over UFC broadcasting rights in 2012, this was the last UFC and Zuffa event to be aired on Versus.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
on October 1, 2011 at the Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
in Washington D.C.
Background
Fabio MaldonadoFabio Maldonado
Fabio Rogerio Maldonado is a Brazilian boxer and mixed martial artist. Fabio Maldonado trains at the training center of Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Antônio Rogério Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
was expected to face Aaron Rosa
Aaron Rosa
Aaron Isaac Rosa is a Mexican American mixed martial artist. He previously fought at Heavyweight and currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
in a light-heavyweight bout, but was pulled from the card due to an injury. A replacement was being sought but this fight was scrapped.
Jeff Hougland
Jeff Hougland
Jeff Hougland is an American mixed martial artist who is currently under contract for the Ultimate Fighting Championship .-Early career:Hougland started fighting professionally in 2002...
was expected to face Mike Easton
Mike Easton
Mike Easton is an American mixed martial artist who is currently under contract for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Easton holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin...
in a Bantamweight bout, but has been injured and replaced by UFC newcomer Byron
Bloodworth.. Bloodworth failed to make the 135 pound weight limit, thus the match was changed to a Catchweight bout, with Bloodworth being fined for the infraction.
With Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
taking over UFC broadcasting rights in 2012, this was the last UFC and Zuffa event to be aired on Versus.
Preliminary card (Facebook)
- Bantamweight bout:
Walel WatsonWalel WatsonWalel Watson is an American mixed martial artist who is currently under contract for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He currently fights in the bantamweight division.-MMA career:...
vs. Joseph Sandoval
- Watson defeated Sandoval via TKO (punches) at 1:17 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout: Josh NeerJosh NeerJoshua Martin Neer is an American mixed martial artist from Des Moines, Iowa who is currently under contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championships. He trains at The LifeLine Youth Foundation and The Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Des Moines, Iowa. Neer is formerly an MFS Elite fighter...
vs. Keith Wisniewski
- Welterweight bout:
- Neer defeated Wisniewski via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round 2.
- Lightweight bout: Shane RollerShane RollerShane Derrick Roller is an American mixed martial artist, currently fighting as a lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs.
TJ GrantTJ GrantTimothy Jerome Grant is a Canadian mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia...
- Lightweight bout:
- Grant defeated Roller via verbal submission (armbar) at 2:12 of round 3.
- Catchweight (138 lb) bout: Mike EastonMike EastonMike Easton is an American mixed martial artist who is currently under contract for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Easton holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin...
vs. Byron Bloodworth
- Catchweight (138 lb) bout:
- Easton defeated Bloodworth via TKO (knees and punches) at 4:52 of round 2.
- Lightweight bout: Michael JohnsonMichael Johnson (fighter)Michael Johnson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Johnson mostly competed in his regional circuit, before signing onto the Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs...
vs.
Paul SassPaul sassPaul Sass is an English mixed martial artist. He lives in Liverpool, training with Next Generation MMA and Team Kaobon.-Early career:Sass' professional MMA record stands at 12-0, with 8 of the victories by triangle choke...
- Lightweight bout:
- Sass defeated Johnson via submission (heel hook) at 3:00 of round 1.
- Lightweight bout:
Yves EdwardsYves Edwards|-| Win| align="center" | 41-17-1| Rafaello Oliveira| TKO | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson| | align="center" | 2| align="center" | 2:44| Washington, D.C||-| Loss| align="center" | 40-17-1| Sam Stout| KO...
vs.
Rafaello OliveiraRafaello OliveiraRafaello Oliveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He fights at and trains at in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.- Mixed martial arts career :Rafaello started his professional MMA career in 2004, competing in his native Brazil....
- Lightweight bout:
- Edwards defeated Oliveira via TKO (head kick and punches) at 2:44 of round 2.
Main card
- Lightweight bout: Matt WimanMatt WimanMatthew Charles Wiman is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
vs. Mac DanzigMac DanzigMac Danzig is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Background:...
- Wiman defeated Danzig via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Welterweight bout: Anthony JohnsonAnthony Johnson (fighter)Anthony Kewoa Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Amateur wrestling:...
vs. Charlie BrennemanCharlie BrennemanCharles "Charlie" Brenneman is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
- Welterweight bout:
- Johnson defeated Brenneman via TKO (head kick) at 2:49 of round 1.
- Heavyweight bout: Pat Barry vs.
Stefan Struve
- Heavyweight bout:
- Struve defeated Barry via submission (triangle armbar) at 3:22 of round 2.
- Bantamweight Championship: Dominick CruzDominick CruzDominick Cruz is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, who competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is the current UFC Bantamweight Champion...
(c) vs. Demetrious JohnsonDemetrious Johnson (fighter)Demetrious Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Johnson is ranked among the top ten bantamweights in the world by leading mixed martial arts publications...
- Bantamweight Championship:
- Cruz defeated Johnson via unanimous decision (50–45, 49–46, 50–45) to retain the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
Bonus awards
Fighters were awarded $65,000 bonuses.- Fight of the Night: Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig
- Knockout of the Night: Anthony Johnson
- Submission of the Night: Stefan Struve