Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson

The main event of UFC on Versus 6 featured Dominick "The Dominator" Cruz defending his bantamweight title against Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson. The bout represented the first time that a UFC belt would be up for grabs on the Versus channel, though the Zuffa-owned WEC organization held numerous bantamweight title fights on the channel. Three of those title fights featured Cruz, until the organization was folded into the UFC. Cruz came into the bout with an 18-1 overall MMA record, including having avenged his only career loss in his most recent title defense by defeating Urijah Faber. Johnson earned the title shot with a 9-1 overall record and was 4-1 in combined UFC and WEC bantamweight action.

Cruz came out and landed the first strike of the fight with a low kick. The smaller Johnson pressed the action, darting in, shooting for a takedown but getting stuffed. Cruz flung Johnson with a hip throw and worked on top, making his way to side control. Johnson regained half-guard and then butterfly guard, then made his way up to his feet. Cruz ducked a head kick, tripped Johnson to the mat, and had to quickly defend a leglock attempt from Johnson. Cruz had to fight off a takedown a few moments later and seemed to be having some level of difficulty with Johnson's speed.

Johnson darted in and caught Cruz with a kick, though Cruz utilized impressive wrestling to bring Johnson down. Back standing Cruz landed a few good strikes but not with the same ease as he had done in some prior fights. The next two minutes were spent battling in the clinch against the fence, separating with Cruz barely missing on a knee to the head. Cruz connected on an uppercut and Johnson missed with a flying knee. Cruz utilized a whizzer to defend a takedown and closed out the round on top with Johnson partially stacked against the fence.

Johnson landed a nice right hand a minute into the third round, though to this point it was not a fight filled with significant damage on either fighter. Cruz took Johnson's back standing and executed a beautiful German suplex, moving quickly to flatten out Johnson. Cruz slipped in a rear naked choke, spun over and Johnson escaped, able to keep the arm from going fully under his chin. Cruz still had position and went for the choke again, but Johnson's defense was tight as he never fully gave up his neck and scrambled up to his feet. Cruz quickly had another takedown, into Johnson's guard with a minute remaining. Johnson made his way up and the round closed in the clinch.

Cruz took the center of the Octagon in the fourth round but ate a leg kick. Cruz landed a good leg kick and jab. Cruz pulled Johnson down for takedown and passed to full mount. Johnson expertly regained guard and then made his way up to his feet, but at this point in the fight was in danger of losing on points. Cruz landed another takedown with thirty seconds left, couldn't hold Johnson down, and the round ended with a couple more flurries.

The fighters touched hands in the fifth round and then Cruz ducked under a high kick. A few moments later Cruz was able to land another brilliant-looking suplex. Johnson immediately scrambled into having guard and slowly made his way backwards up to the cage. Johnson stood and was able to separate. Cruz looked for a hip throw, but Johnson had good enough balance to avoid being put on his back and bounced up. Another hip throw from Cruz with the same result. Cruz landed another takedown, moved to full mount and took Johnson's back. Johnson made his way to his feet and ate a big knee from Cruz. A final takedown from Cruz against the determined but out-gunned Demetrious Johnson.

The judges scored the fight 50-45, 49-46, and 50-45 for the winner by unanimous decision, Dominick Cruz. Speaking to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview, Cruz commented, "I've been putting in a lot of work, did two camps back to back, it was a tough fight, the kid puts in a sick pace... he didn't surprise me, I was ready for a wicked grind, a wicked pace, and I just had to slow down the fight and use my size... I wanted to show a little bit of my grappling in this fight, I had the choke in deep... he was gurgling, he just toughed it out, that's what happens when you're fighting the best in the world."

Rogan also spoke with Johnson, who commented, "I give my hat off to Dominick, he's a great champion, he was stronger than I thought... I was just surprised at how strong he was, on the feet I felt comfortable... he's a good champion... he was ready for everything."