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FLASHBACK: Dominick Cruz defeats Demetrious Johnson in his last UFC bout 2 years ago today
Oct 1, 2013 - 8:15:55 PM FLASHBACK: Dominick Cruz defeats Demetrious Johnson in his last UFC bout 2 years ago today

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It has now been exactly two years since Dominick Cruz has been inside the cage, as his last fight came against Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson at the final UFC on Versus card on Oct. 1, 2011. As we haven't seen him in the cage in 24 months, let's flash back to the last time he was there, with our live round by round report for his bout with Johnson two years ago:


MAIN EVENT FIGHT FOUR: DOMINICK CRUZ VS. DEMETRIOUS "MIGHTY MOUSE" JOHNSON (BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND ONE: Cruz engaged first and landed a right before popping out. He got in with a kick. Johnson closed the distance and landed a few strikes. Cruz landed a kick to the body. Johnson pressed in quickly with a strike. He shot in for a takedown and Cruz stuffed him. Cruz threw Johnson but Johnson defended. Cruz stayed on him and passed to side control. Cruz landed a couple of knees to the body. Johnson got back to butterfly guard and got his back to the cage. Cruz landed a strike and tried to drag him back down. Johnson got back to his feet and Cruz backed off. Johnson landed a few strikes and got Cruz to the cage. He threw a head kick but it got stuck and Cruz took him down. Johnson went for a leg lock but Cruz got out. Johnson scrambled to his feet again and landed a left hook. He shot in and completed a takedown but Cruz got back up. Johnson landed a couple of knees and punches in the clinch. Cruz landed a couple of knees. Cruz ducked under and got out. Johnson landed a right. Cruz got in an uppercut as Johnson shot in again. He stuffed it on the cage and Johnson landed a knee to the body as he broke away. Cruz landed a body kick. Cruz landed a jab. Johnson swung wildly and missed as the round came to an end.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz. The Champ had top position a couple of times and avoided much of Johnson's attack, but the challenger did connect on a few strikes and has the speed to keep Cruz in check here. This could get interesting.

ROUND TWO: Johnson landed a hard right early on Cruz and connected on a head kick but Cruz clinched and secured a takedown on the cage. Johnson got his back to the cage and didn't let Cruz do anything. Cruz landed a knee to the body but Johnson stood up. Johnson almost tripped Cruz up and then pressed him to the cage. Cruz landed a knee to the body and Johnson responded in kind. Johnson kept Cruz's back on the cage but missed a big punch. He shot in for a single leg but Cruz stuffed it. They jockeyed for position on the cage. They traded knees to the body in the clinch again. Johnson landed a knee up high and a knee to the head. Johnson nearly tripped Cruz up but Cruz stayed up and they continued in the clinch. Johnson dropped for a double leg but Cruz again held it off. Cruz got separation with an attempted knee to the head. Johnson jumped in and connected with a right. He landed two more as Cruz came in. Johnson landed a leg kick. He landed a right and attempted a flying knee but it missed. Cruz landed a jab from the outside. Both swung an demised on a couple. Cruz landed a knee and Johnson shot in. Cruz stopped it again and then took Johnson down again against the cage. Cruz finished the round on top, though he didn't really land anything there.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz. Johnson had the better striking exchanges there, but it wasn't quite enough with Cruz scoring two takedowns and working well in the clinch.

ROUND THREE: They traded kicks to the body early. Johnson missed on an attempted combination. He caught a kick from Cruz but was unable to land on the counter. Johnson landed a jab as Cruz came in. Johnson connected on a left and a follow up as well. Cruz started walking Johnson down and landed a short jab. Johnson shook off a takedown attempt from Cruz, but Cruz then took his back standing. Cruz pulled off a suplex and flattened out Johnson with a hook in. Cruz tried to set up the rear naked choke. Johnson spun out but Cruz went right back to the choke. Cruz got out again and got to his feet. Great defense from the challenger. He pressed Cruz to the cage in a clinch and landed a couple of strikes. Johnson landed a couple of strikes against the cage, but Cruz took him down again against the cage. Johnson's back was on the cage, but Cruz tried to drag him down further. Cruz simply pressed Johnson into the cage and didn't do anything with the takedown. Johnson tried to kick him off. Johnson finally got back to his feet again. He landed an uppercut in the clinch and Cruz landed a knee to the body. They traded strikes in the clinch to end the round.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz. The suplex and two near submissions give the Champ the round, and the challenger will need to find a way to finish if he's going to take the belt. He's in the fight, but he's just not done enough through three rounds to let it go to the scorecards.

ROUND FOUR: Johnson landed an early leg kick. They traded leg kicks after walking each other down. Neither fighter landed much of anything in the first minute of the round. Cruz slipped on a leg kick, but landed a jab to keep Johnson off him. Johnson landed a right in close. He got in another right, but couldn't follow up. Cruz got another takedown against the cage. Cruz moved to half guard. He passed to full mount with over two minutes left. Cruz landed a couple of strikes, but Johnson got back to butterfly guard and got his back to the cage. Johnson again got to his feet. He came straight forward but missed and got clinched again. Johnson landed a left. He connected on a right. He ate an uppercut and Cruz clinched again. Cruz landed a knee and dragged Johnson to the mat again. Johnson got back to his feet and rushed in with a flurry but Cruz again got the clinch as the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz. He's simply avoiding anything Johnson is doing offensively and effectively controlling where the fight takes place right now.

ROUND FIVE: Johnson landed a couple of early strikes and threw a head kick over Cruz's head. Cruz clinched, got Johnson's back standing and suplexed him again and moved immediately to side control. Johnson got him into full guard and there the clock worked against him. Cruz simply kept busy enough not to be stood up as Johnson dragged himself back to the cage. Cruz dragged him down again. He finally got to his feet with half the round left. Cruz held him in the clinch and Johnson finally got loose, landing a couple strikes on his way out. Johnson landed a hard right but Cruz clinched, almost landed a throw and then hit it again. Johnson got loose and Johnson came after him again. Cruz avoided another striking rush from Johnson, took him down and moved to full mount. Johnson turned over and gave up his back but got back up. Cruz landed a hard knee as Johnson came after him. Johnson backed up and Cruz came in, scoring one more takedown to end the round on top.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz. Once again, Johnson simply wasn't able to mount any effective or sustainable offense, and Cruz controlled him in the grappling department. Johnson had a good showing and a lot of heart throughout, but he just wasn't able to sustain any success throughout the fight. He had his moments, but it wasn't anywhere near enough.

Penick's Final Score: 50-45 Cruz.

WINNER: Cruz via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-45)

POST FIGHT: Cruz said he's been putting in a lot of work. He gave Johnson credit for a "sick pace" and said he had to out-wrestle him. Cruz said he was expecting that pace and needed to show his strength and grappling game. Johnson was interviewed and said he didn't realize how strong Cruz was. He said he felt comfortable on the feet, but gave Cruz credit for his game. His face was extremely swollen on the left side.

STAR RATING: (**+) This was a solid title fight, though there didn't seem to be any sense, outside of one stretch in the third round, that either fighter was in danger of being stopped. This was not a typical Cruz fight, as Johnson didn't allow him to play his stick and move game, and actually out-grappled Johnson throughout with a superior clinch game and effective throws, suplexes and simple takedowns as well.