UFC: Dominick Cruz takes the best of Demetrius Johnson in shut-out maul

It was not as if they were 5 lop-sided rounds, but Dominick Cruz showed two levels of proof on Saturday night at the Verizon Center, Washington DC, in defending the UFC bantamweight title. That he has the resilience demanded of him to get through at a faster pace than he normally sets himself; and that Demetrius Johnson can be manhandled by a powerful bantamweight and is likely to excel at flyweight when the division is inked into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, most likely some time in 2012. For now, Johnson says he will stay in the division. But he will move down in time.

Cruz, accustomed to being the will-o'-the-wisp dancer on his toes in the Octagon, was clearly bemused in the early moments of the fight by Johnson's fleetness of foot. The pace of the fight was exhausting, but once Cruz realised he could outmuscle the challenger once he had hands on him, he wrestled his way to retaining his belt comfortably.

Cruz retained his title 50-45, twice, and 49-46 on the judges' cards. There was a case for Johnson earning the second round. Cruz was better in every department, save leg kicks. Johnson needed more than his trademark ruthless, relentless aggression and athleticism against the champion.

But make no mistake, Johnson forced his work-rate for all twenty five championship minutes. Cruz told me leading into this fight that he will not rest until he is at the head of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings.

Cruz looks to have all the tools to be able to dominate the 135lb division in the way that Anderson Silva, GSP and Jon Jones is beginning to do at 205lbs. Elusive, and with a style of his own. Indeed, individual, unorthodox styles appear to heave longevity upon the bearer. Cruz is a damn fine individual too, and will excel within the corporate demands on the mixed martial arts athlete as demanded by the UFC.

PAUL SASS CONTINUES SUBMISSION SEQUENCE

Liverpool mixed martial artist Paul Sass, in his second fight for the UFC following his debut at UFC 120 in November last year, submitted Michael Johnson in the first round by heel hook, after shipping a few heavy shots from the American striker in the opening minute of the fight. Sass is now unbeaten in 12 fights.

How to watch UFC: Live Dominick Cruz versus Demetrius Johnson tonight

UFC have reached agreement with Premier Sports UK and Setanta Sports Ireland to broadcast the forthcoming UFC live 6 card this Saturday night. Details below.

- – In the UK, Premier Sports UK will show the event free to air to all UK and Northern Irish homes on Channel number 433 on the BSKYB platform.

- – In Ireland Setanta Sports 1 will show the event free to air to all Republic of Ireland satellite homes on Channel number 424 on the BSKYB platform in Ireland. It is also available on Setanta Sport 1 on UPC cable channel 407.

Those with Virgin will have to watch the event live on UFC.Tv, which is free online. Register yourself with an account and it will unscramble free on your screen at 2am.

Prelim fights on on the UFC Facebook page. Just 'like' the page, and click on Live Event.

The UFC deal with ESPN for numbered events continues until August 2012. There is no deal in place for UFC 'Live' events.

UFC: Dana White on Dominick Cruz versus Demetrius Johnson

Telegraph Sport asks UFC President Dana White if Demetrius Johnson deserves the UFC bantamweight title shot against champion Dominick Cruz this weekend in Washington DC ? Did Johnson rightfully get the decision over Miguel Torres in his last fight ?

Here's what Dana White had to say…

UFC 134: Telegraph picks with Dominick Cruz heralding Ross Pearson

Ross Pearson

UFC 134 picks:

Silva, Griffin, Schaub, Pearson, Cane

The toughest fight of Ross Pearson’s career against one of the rising stars of Brazilian MMA tonight in Rio at UFC 134. Pearson is the sole British fighter at the event, which has 14 of 22 fighters on the card from Brazil.

Victory would give Pearson a huge lift in the lightweight division, putting him within three fights of a title shot. But the elevation in this contest is immense. Many see Barboza as a nailed-down future lightweight champion. Pearson has undergone a major training camp in San Diego. Dominick Cruz, the UFC bantamweight champion, told The Telegraph:

“My take on Ross – he’s an extremely hard worker, which you’d expect for most athletes, but he also ‘wants it’ really badly. Someone with that mindset catches on quickly, and Ross really is a fast learner. He is extremely tough. Now you hear that a lot. It is one thing to say it, and another thing to see it.”

“He is tough mentally and physically. He is on another level and has what it takes to take his game to another level. He catches on very quickly and once he gets into tip-top shape, he beats the crap out of everyone training with him. Lots of guys give him a challenge in our gym, and because of that he’s like a kid in a candy store in San Diego. You have a duty when you are in camp to get beaten up on certain days, and he does that. Ross has been loving it being in San Diego, and is there sucking everything up…”

It may not be enough for Pearson to succeed in Rio tonight, but judging buy champion Cruz, he could be doing no more than he is.

LISTEN HERE FOR THIS WEEK’S ESPN UFC PODCAST. I have interviews with Ross Pearson and Chael Sonnen on the chances of Yushin Okami.

UFC 134: Ross Pearson training with champions for Edson Barboza test in Brazil

Ross Pearson

Ross Pearson will walk into a caldron when he steps into the sold-out HSBC Arena in Rio, Brazil in the early hours of Sunday morning to take on unbeaten local Edson Barboza at UFC 134.

Sunderland bricklayer turned ultimate fighter Pearson, who’s earthy approach to mixed martial arts has earned him the name ‘the Real Deal’, knows he’s going to be lustily jeered by the 16,000 Brazilians who have already been whipped into a fever with the UFC’s first event since the late 1990s. In the thirteen-year absence from Rio, the fans have never lost their love of the sport. Brazil remains the cradle of MMA.

Barboza is formidable, and is 8-0 in the sport; he’s stopped six opponents with strikes and submitted another; he is coming off a fantastic fight of the night win over Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128; he is hotly tipped to perhaps join some of his countrymen and fellow UFC 134 main carders – Anderson Silva, “Shogun” Rua and “Minotauro” Nogueira – as a future UFC title holder.

But Pearson believes two-months of training with elite level UFC fighters including bantamweight king Dominic Cruz will be the difference in this fight. Pearson is 4-1 in the UFC, and although he won’t speak of it as to not look to be making excuses, a freak knee injury during his fight with Cole Miller a year ago probably cost him his UFC unbeaten record.

Pearson is focused on this weekend’s fight, though, correctly believing this is a career-changer for him. He said: “A win here puts me on the map. I’ve had a setback but a win over Barboza in Rio will be noticed by a lot of people.

“I knew I needed to base my camp in the States, and I’ve been training with guys like Dominick, Brandon Vera and Phil Davis day in, day out and really come on. I needed to improve my game and I want to become a better fighter than what I already was, so I’ve been out at MMA Alliance training with the best.”

“The standard is right up there at the top and it’s bringing my game on so much. Everyone back home in England – my family, friends, even my Rough House teammates – said that if I want to evolve and become a world champion in the sport, I have to go out here and train with the best. There was nothing but positive vibes coming from people back home, telling me I was doing the right thing coming out here. I had sorta become a big fish in a little pond training in England, where out here, I’m just a little fish in a very big pond.”

Pearson knows he’s up against a formidable striker. He said: “Barboza does a lot of things I like to do, he’s a great puncher and he mixes his punches and kicks very well. But I am not scared of him at all. I am going to put it on him from the very first second of the fight and pressure him. He likes to kick from a distance, he’s not going to do that to me. Not happening.

“I think it’s going to be a real war and I know he’ll be fired up fighting in front of all his countrymen. I thought at UFC 105 in Manchester (November 2009) and having fans willing you to do win does help. But it also adds pressure on you and I think when he doesn’t have it his own way he’ll not know what to do.

“I’m expecting a total war, but that’s the way I like it.”