Author: UFC News

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – UFC® bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will put his world title and nine-fight winning streak on the line on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. when he meets the red-hot Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that the 135-pound title clash will headline the organization’s stacked card heading to the nation’s capitol this fall.

“Dominick Cruz has been on a tear in the bantamweight division and he just beat Urijah Faber in an incredible fight,” UFC President Dana White said. “He’s on a mission to run through the division. Demetrious just beat Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Torres in back-to-back fights and he wants that belt. We’re excited to get to D.C. with a world title fight and a great card.”

UFC’s trip to Verizon Center will also include an explosive heavyweight fight pitting Pat Barry against 6’11” Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve, as well as a welterweight tilt between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and the streaking Charlie Brenneman. Plus, lightweights Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig collide in a pivotal fight in the deep 155-pound division.

Tickets for UFC® LIVE: CRUZ vs. JOHNSON at Verizon Center go on sale on Friday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $50 (plus applicable service charges). Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Verizon Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 202-397-SEAT, 703-573-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 202-661-5065. Visit www.verizoncenter.com for more information.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Aug. 11, starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter via the “Join Newsletter” field at the top of this page.

UFC® LIVE: CRUZ vs. JOHNSON will be broadcast live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

Possessing one of the sport’s best combinations of striking and wrestling, champion Dominick Cruz (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) is undefeated since dropping to bantamweight in 2008. The 26-year-old owns key victories over Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez (twice) and Scott Jorgensen and is eager to end the rise of Johnson in D.C. With his dynamic footwork and unsurpassed conditioning, Cruz (18-1) believes his reign over the division is just beginning.

“I have a lot of goals for myself and I’d be lying if I said cleaning out the division wasn’t one of them,” Cruz, who trains jiu-jitsu under D.C.-based coach Lloyd Irvin, said. “It’s a goal because it’s such a hard thing to accomplish. Demetrious has a lot of heart and you can tell he’s a hard worker. He’s the next opponent I’ll need to beat in order to achieve my goal. I’m excited to get to D.C., where half of my team is located, and put on a great show for the fans.”

An explosive wrestler known for pushing opponents with his unparalleled pace, Demetrious Johnson (fighting out of Parkland, Wash.) is riding back-to-back wins over Japanese superstar Kid Yamamoto and former bantamweight kingpin Miguel Angel Torres. Now, the 24-year-old has his sights locked on the bantamweight title and he believes he has the right ingredients to upend the unorthodox champion.

“Dominick is the top dog in the division and he’s earned the right to be called champion with his nine-fight winning streak,” Johnson, who owns a record of 14-1, said. “I need to be the best Demetrious Johnson possible on Oct. 1. I think Dominick has gotten used to people standing in front of him, which has allowed him to use his great footwork and dance around people. But on fight night, we’re going to dance and I plan on bringing it to him like he hasn’t seen before.”

One of the most lethal strikers in the heavyweight division, Pat Barry (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) can change the outcome of a fight with one turn of the hips. Thus, expect the kickboxing ace to come out firing at Verizon Center when he locks horns with 6’11” rising star Stefan Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, The Netherlands). Barry (6-3) owns victories over Joey Beltran and Antoni Hardonk, while Struve (25-5) holds wins over Sean McCorkle, Christian Morecraft and Paul Buentello.

A welterweight contender will emerge when Anthony Johnson (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) takes on Charlie Brenneman (fighting out of Holidaysburg, Pa.) on Oct. 1. Johnson (9-3) has built a reputation for being a heavy-handed finisher, with five of his six UFC wins coming by way of knockout. He’ll be put to the test in his next fight when he meets Brenneman (14-2), who is fresh off upsetting Rick Story in June.

Lightweights Matt Wiman (fighting out of Arvada, Colo.) and Mac Danzig (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) step inside the Octagon® with the winner moving up the ladder in the UFC’s crowded 155-pound division. The 27-year-old Wiman (13-6) has won three out of his last four fights, while the 31-year-old Danzig (21-8-1), winner of The Ultimate Fighter® season six, knocked out Joe Stevenson in his last fight at UFC 124.

All bouts live and subject to change.

UFC president Dana White, Tito Ortiz and the winners on the main card addressed the media after UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz in Philadelphia.

White awarded two traditional bonuses of $70,000 to Vitor Belfort for his Knockout of the Night over Yoshihiro Akiyama and to Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz for their exciting and emotionally-charged Fight of the Night.

With no submissions on the card, there was no Submission of the Night bonus to give. In its place, White announced that he would give a $70,000 “Thanks for getting those horrifying shorts off TV as soon as possible” bonus to Brian Ebersole for his first-round finish of the scantily-clad Dennis Hallman (photo, right).

Video highlights are linked from the fighters below:
Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz
Vitor Belfort, Brian Ebersole and Rory MacDonald

Mike Swick’s long-awaited comeback to the Octagon will have to wait a little longer after he was forced to withdraw from his UFC 134 bout against Erick Silva due to injury. A replacement opponent for the debuting Silva will be announced shortly.

Brazilian Prospects Meet in Rio Next Month
With UFC 134 in Rio fast approaching, two local favorites will make their Octagon debuts at home. “Antonio Carvalho is out of his scheduled UFC 134 bout due to injury,” said UFC President Dana White. “Felipe Arantes has stepped in his place to face Yuri Alcantara. Now, two of Brazil’s most exciting featherweight prospects will go head-to-head in Rio de Janeiro on August 27th.”

Miller Rio-Bound to Fight Toquinho

“Dan Miller lives up to his motto of ‘anyone, anyplace, anytime’ by stepping up against Rousimar Palhares at UFC 134 after original opponent Alexandre Ferreira pulled out of the fight,” said UFC president Dana White today.

Miller last fought at UFC 128, where he faced Nate Marquardt on less than a week’s notice when Marquardt’s original opponent, Yoshihiro Akiyama, was unable to make the trip due to the earthquake in Japan. Last month, Miller’s teammate Charlie Brenneman fought Rick Story on less than a day’s notice when Story’s original opponent – Marquardt – was not medically cleared to fight.

Alcantara vs. Carvalho in Rio updated June 28
“Canadian featherweight fighter, Antonio Carvalho will be making his UFC debut against one of Brazil’s best prospects, Yuri Alcantara at UFC 134,” confirmed UFC president Dana White.

Jabouin vs. Loveland Added to UFC 134 Card updated June 10
A Canadian and an American will meet in Brazil on August 27th, as bantamweights Yves Jabouin and Ian Loveland square off in a UFC 134 bout.

“Ian Loveland and Yves Jabouin have verbally agreed to fight on August 27 in Rio De Janeiro,” said UFC President Dana White. “Both are exceptionally tough competitors and this will be Jabouin’s first bout in the bantamweight division.”

Swick Returns in Brazil Against Newcomer Silva

Following a year and a half long layoff, welterweight star Mike “Quick” Swick will return to the Octagon in search of his 10th UFC win when he takes on highly touted newcomer Erick Silva at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 27th.

Schaub vs. Big Nog Confirmed for Rio
The UFC 134 fight card has added a high-profile heavyweight battle, Dana White confirmed today. The 8-1 Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub and former Pride and UFC champion Minotauro Nogueria have verbally agreed to the August 27 bout in Rio.

Schaub is coming off a UFC 128 knockout of the night performance against another Pride legend, Mirko Cro Cop. The summer bout will be Nogueira’s first return to the Octagon in 18 months after an injury took him out of his planned headlining bout last October.

It’s Official – Silva vs. Okami in Rio on August 27 updated May 9
It’s official. UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will look to successfully defend his title for the ninth time when he faces the last man to beat him, number one contender Yushin Okami, at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 27th.

Barboza to Face Pearson in Rio
Verbal agreements are in for another big bout on the Brazil card. “Undefeated 8-0 Brazilian sensation Edson Barboza takes on Ultimate Fighter 9 winner Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson,” said Dana White. Barboza is coming off a Fight of the Night win in his second UFC outing at UFC 128; Brit Pearson last defeated Spencer Fisher at UFC 127 in Sydney.

UFC 134 in Rio Fight Card Takes Shape updated April 17
After months of anticipation and speculation, the fight card for UFC 134 – the UFC’s first return to Brazil since 1998 – has begun to take shape, featuring several of the country’s most talented fighters.

Dana White today announced several bouts that have been verbally agreed upon for the momentous event.

Forrest Griffin shocked the world when he spoiled the heavily-favored Pride legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua‘s UFC debut in 2007. Now Shogun will have the chance for revenge in his home country as the two will rematch August 27. “These two former world champions always give it their all and this could be one of the most exciting fights of the year,” said White.

In a dynamic lightweight matchup, Spencer Fisher is slated to take on Thiago Tavares. In light-heavyweight news, undefeated Stanislav Nedkov will take on devastating Brazilian striker Luiz “Banha” Cane.

Be on the lookout for a new beauty sitting cageside Saturday night — Chrissy Hubbard will be a Guest Octagon Girl at UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz on Saturday, August 6.

The blonde, beach-loving Hubbard was chosen from among thousands of entrants in the annual Miss TransWorld Motocross modeling search. The Floridian will not only grace the cage during UFC 133 but will also receive an extended spread in the pages of TransWorld Motocross magazine.

Hooters Girl Lindsey Way will be a guest Octagon Girl at UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber alongside Arianny Celeste, Chandella Powell and Brittney Palmer.

The Floridian college student was chosen out of 100 Hooters Girls to represent the chain at the UFC via a vote that took place on Facebook in May and June. Way also recently won the 15th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant.

UFC president Dana White awarded bonuses to headliners Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber for Fight of the Night and to Tito Ortiz for the first-round Submission of the Night scored in his first win since 2006. He also announced that Carlos Condit received Knockout of the Night for his highlight-reel flying knee KO of Dong Hyun Kim. Each bonus scored $75,000 for the fighters.

Video highlights from the fighters below will be linked below as they become available.

Carlos Condit and Tito Ortiz

Melvin Guillard and Dennis Siver

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz