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Cruz isn't as unpredictable as you think - Hume

ESPN staff
September 30, 2011
Demetrious Johnson has only been beaten once © Getty Images
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Demetrious Johnson's chief MMA coach, Matt Hume, claims Dominick Cruz is not as difficult to prepare for as many observers believe.

Johnson meets Cruz is a hugely intriguing UFC bantamweight title showdown this weekend, featuring two men with exceptional footwork. Both fighters have only been beaten once, Cruz by Urijah Faber, while Johnson lost to England's Brad Pickett.

The champion, Cruz, has a particularly unorthodox style, almost dancing around the Octagon - never standing still as he launches wave after wave of attack. He is seen as the future of the 135lb division, so a Johnson victory would be something of an upset.

However, the man known as "The Wizard", Matt Hume, is convinced Cruz's style is actually a smokescreen. He predicts Johnson has already nailed down the right way to dethrone the champion.

"DJ can mimic it perfectly," Hume said on USA Today. "It's not as herky-jerky as people think or as unorthodox as people think. He creates a lot of patterns in his movement."

Certainly Cruz will attempt to be at his fluid best on Saturday, insisting Johnson can be unsettled. "Mighty Mouse kind of flows things," said Cruz. "He hits takedowns off of timing, so the important part is to mess up his timing."

Asked simply for his career aim in MMA, Cruz replied: "Definitely something I'm trying to do [is] build a legacy. Go down in history as the best 135-pounder that lived."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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