Long before they retired as greats of all time, Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson were concerned with one of the fastest fights in the history of UFC.
Demetrious Johnson's is undoubtedly recognized as the largest flying weight of all time with the record for most UFC title defenses (11).
Standing on 5'3 ”, 'Mighty Mouse' fought a lot of his earlier career against larger hunters in the Bantamweight division where he had a significant speed benefit in both the WEC and UFC.
Johnson received a title shot almost as fast as he moved and earned a crack at the then champion Dominick Cruz in his third UFC fight in 2011.
Just like Johnson, Cruz was known for his speed and unorthodox footwork, which caused many of his opponents – not Johnson, who corresponded to his pace over five trade rounds.
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Demetrious Johnson gave Dominick Cruz a point for his money
Cruz defended his Bantamweight against Johnson in the main event of UFC on versus 6 on October 1, 2011. It was the second UFC title defense of Cruz after an earlier loss for Urijah Faber and marked Johnson's first world title fight.
Cruz and Johnson quickly started the gate with the hunters who cut many different perspectives. Johnson looked like he was a little faster than Cruz in the striking department, kept his pace and managed to land several times.
“It almost looks like it's fast with how these bantam weights move,” said UFC commentator Mike Goldberg on the broadcast.
The champion followed a more grasp-heavy approach to cancel the speed of 'powerful mouse' of the path of the least resistance.
Cruz, the larger man, used his size and strength to control Johnson on the floor and against the cage in the clinch. That did not stop Johnson from going for his own Takedowns, unable to keep the 5'8 ″ Cruz long.
Dominick Cruz almost submitted Demetrious Johnson after Suplex
Do you know that power benefit we were talking about? Cruz used it in full swing to suplex Johnson for a colorful removal in round 3.
Cruz flat johnson on the mat and tried a followed choke with a tight palm-to-palm grip.
Johnson escaped the near-finish by spinning, defending the choke again with Cruz on his back, who hit his neck. Johnson in Trouble, the future champion escaped and came to his feet with immediate pressure.
Cruz took Johnson down several times in the championship rounds and did not suffer too much damage on the ground. Cruz Suplexte Johnson again in the fifth round and used his judo trips as soon as Johnson returned.
Although he was sometimes dolded with rags, he got a game that Johnson played in the distance with Dominick Cruz. The jury members scored the fight 50-45, 49-46, 50-45 with 'The Dominator' Cruz who keep his title in a fight between future legends.