• UFC Live

Cruz to defend title against Johnson

ESPN staff
July 22, 2011
Dominick Cruz is looking to push on after victory over Urijah Faber © Getty Images
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Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will defend his title against Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live, UFC president Dana White has confirmed.

Cruz extended his MMA record to 18 wins and one defeat at the recent UFC 132, as he defeated the only man ever to have got the better of him, Urijah Faber, in a gruelling encounter. The 25-year-old is currently on an impressive nine-bout winning streak.

Johnson, meanwhile, is on a four-match winning run of his own - with his most recent success coming by unanimous decision against Miguel Torres at UFC 130. He will now try and wrest the division title from Cruz, and White is looking forward to the contest.

"Cruz cemented his claim as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport with an exciting win over Urijah Faber at UFC 132," White told NBC Sport. "He beat the one guy who had beaten him - he got the monkey off his back - and a lot of people think he's going to go on to be unstoppable now.

"But he'll be fighting maybe the one guy in the division who is faster than him. Johnson's speed has seen him beat 10 of his 11 opponents, including a win over former champion Miguel Torres.

"The first bantamweight title fight in UFC history was the Fight of the Night - and the second one could be even better."

The latest UFC Live takes place on October 1 in Washington DC.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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