MMA Combat - Cruz to Defend UFC Bantamweight Title Against Johnson at UFC Live 6

MMA Combat - Cruz to Defend UFC Bantamweight Title Against Johnson at UFC Live 6

The UFC confirmed Thursday that bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz (18-1-0), will defend his title against Demetrious Johnson (9-1-0), October 1, at UFC Live 6 scheduled to take place at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Representing Alliance MMA, Cruz last appeared earlier this month, July 2, at UFC 132 where the 25-year old champion successfully defended his 145lbs strap against former WEC bantamweight king - and the only man to hold a victory over him - Urijah Faber. Cruz has won nine consecutive bouts and has defended the title three times since capturing it in March of 2010 with a TKO victory over Brian Bowles.

Johnson is a winner in four straight outings since suffering the first loss of his professional career against British talent, Brad Pickett. His last appearance was a controversial unanimous decision win over former WEC bantamweight champion, Miguel Torres at UFC 130 - Rampage vs. Hamill, in May of this year. Noted for his wrestling ability and speed, "Might Mouse" at just 5'3" will need to solve the outside game of the sure-footed champion who will carry a 5" height and 2" reach advantage into the contest this fall.

Other confirmed bouts for the card are found below:

Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson
Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig
Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson


Follow us on twitter @mmacombatDOTcom
facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/update_secur...63733427002469
youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/mmacomba...m?feature=mhum
Blogger: http://mmacombatdotcom.blogspot.com/
And on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mmacombatdotcom

MMA Combat - UFC's Brad Pickett Eager for Assignment

MMA Combat - UFC's Brad Pickett Eager for Assignment

UFC bantamweight contender Brad "One Punch" Pickett (20-5-0) is eager to make his promotion debut after pulling out of his UFC 130 bout with Miguel Torres due to a herniated disk in his back. The swift-handed British talent has posted wins in ten of his previous eleven fights, losing only to wrestling powerhouse Scott Jorgensen along the way in what was to become a #1 contender bout at WEC 50.

Sitting down with Men's Fitness UK, Pickett spoke of the recent injury and the frustration he has had to overcome as a result:

"I’ve herniated a disc in my spine and it is getting better but not at the rate I would like it to. When I’m injured I want it to heal up quick and get back in the gym, but this one’s being really slow because there’s really annoying niggly hitches... I’m training but I’m doing different exercises: I’ve started doing karate, I’ve been swimming a lot. A bit of pad work is all the fighting-related training I have been able to do."

"I’m annoyed I got injured – well, I’m more than annoyed, I’m really gutted. I could have beaten him, because I knew that there were a lot of holes in Miguel’s style and I knew that I could exploit them with mine"

With Jorgensen's defeat at the hands of 145lbs champion Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber's recent setback, and Demetrius Johnson being touted as the new number one contender in the Zuffa pecking order, Pickett believes he remains firmly in the mix at the very top of the division, particularly with recent wins against Ivan Menjivar and the aforementioned Johnson. When asked how a fight between the champ and him might go down, Pickett had only the following to say.

"I honestly believe that out of the top ten guys, I would have one of the better chances of beating him. He dances around a lot, he moves a lot, he’s hard to hit and he’s got brilliant conditioning so I don’t think anyone’s going to beat him by decision – to beat him you’re gonna need to knock him out. And I believe I have more power than most of the people in the top ten and I have great chokes and submissions, which gives me a good chance."

So when can we expect to see more of "One Punch"? If all goes well the London, England, native would like to appear in front of a hometown crowd for a welcomed change at UFC 136, which is tentatively scheduled for October 8, 2011.

"I would love is to fight in the UK. I haven’t fought in the UK for a long time – I’ve been in America since 2009 – so I believe I’ve got a lot more US fans than UK fans because a lot of people have just started getting into the sport and they’ve seen me fight in the WEC."


Follow us on twitter @mmacombatDOTcom
facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/update_secur...63733427002469
youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/mmacomba...m?feature=mhum
Blogger: http://mmacombatdotcom.blogspot.com/
And on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mmacombatdotcom