UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson explained

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson
Promotion:	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date:	October 1, 2011
Venue:	Verizon Center
City:	Washington, D.C.
Attendance:	9,380^[1]
Gate:	$706,775
Previousevent:	UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage
Followingevent:	UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (also known as UFC on Versus 6) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 1, 2011 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.^[2]

Background

This event featured a UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between champion Dominick Cruz and #1 contender Demetrious Johnson, which was the first UFC title fight to be aired live at a free televised UFC event since UFC 75 in September 2007.

Fabio Maldonado was expected to face Aaron Rosa in a Light Heavyweight bout, but was pulled from the card due to an injury. A replacement was being sought but this fight was scrapped.^[3]

Jeff Hougland was expected to face Mike Easton in a Bantamweight bout, but has been injured and replaced by UFC newcomer Byron Bloodworth.^[4] Bloodworth failed to make the 135 pound weight limit, thus the match was changed to a Catchweight bout, with Bloodworth being fined for the infraction.^[5]

With Fox taking over UFC broadcasting rights in 2012, this was the last UFC and Zuffa event to be aired on Versus.

Bonus awards

Fighters were awarded $65,000 bonuses.^[6]

• Fight of the Night: Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig
• Knockout of the Night: Anthony Johnson
• Submission of the Night: Stefan Struve

See also

• List of UFC events

Notes and References

1. Web site: UFC on Versus 6 sets event series' attendance and live-gate records. MMAjunkie.com. October 2, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120510195055/http://mmajunkie.com/news/25493/ufc-on-versus-6-sets-event-series-attendance-and-live-gate-records.mma. May 10, 2012.
2. Web site: UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson. ufc.com.
3. Web site: Fabio Maldonado scratched from UFC on Versus 6 due to injury. mmajunkie.com. September 14, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928075935/http://mmajunkie.com/news/25236/fabio-maldonado-scratched-from-ufc-on-versus-6-due-to-injury.mma. September 28, 2011.
4. Web site: Jeff Hougland out, Byron Bloodworth in against Mike Easton at UFC on Versus 6. mmajunkie.com. September 27, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930114207/http://mmajunkie.com/news/25431/jeff-hougland-out-byron-bloodworth-in-against-mike-easton-at-ufc-on-versus-6.mma. September 30, 2011.
5. Web site: Cruz, Johnson Cleared for UFC LIve 6 Title Showdown. sherdog.com. September 30, 2011.
6. Web site: UFC on Versus 6 bonuses: Johnson, Struve, Wiman and Danzig earn $65K awards. MMAjunkie.com. October 1, 2011. October 1, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002231806/http://mmajunkie.com/news/25490/ufc-on-versus-6-bonuses.mma. October 2, 2011.