Paul Sass vs. Michael Johnson Set for UFC on Versus 6 in Washington D.C.

by Scott Haber on Jul 21, 2011 9:59 AM EDT in UFC News

Although many expected undefeated British submission specialist Paul Sass to be granted a spot on the UFC 138 card in England this November, "Sassangle" will instead be competing in our nation's capital on October 1st against TUF 12 runner-up, Michael Johnson. The UFC's UK office confirmed the lightweight booking via Twitter this morning:

International Sass-angle! @paul_sass fights on UFC LIVE 6 Washington D.C October 1st v Michael Johnson @ufc

Paul "Sassangle" Sass (11-0)
Win Mark Holst (submission - triangle choke) - UFC 120
Win Jason Young (submission - heel hook) - OMMAC 4
Win Rob Sinclair (split decision) - OMMAC 2

Michael "The Menace" Johnson (9-5)
Win Edward Faaloloto (TKO) - UFC on Versus 4
Loss Jonathan Brookins (unam. decision) - TUF 12 Finale
Win Chris McDaniel (TKO) - FM Productions

This also the first confirmation from the UFC that the October 1st Versus-televised event will indeed be held in Washington D.C. The card is also expected to feature a welterweight bout between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, and a lightweight rematch between Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig.

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Anyone hear anything about the venue?

by SkeezinSteevin on Jul 21, 2011 10:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah, venue? So excited thres an event coming to DC. Live in the city and haven’t ever been able to make it to any ufc events, even ons in other cities on the east coast. Will def be going to this.

"now i'm too fucked up to dance, so i'ma sit with my hand down the front of my pants" - Atmosphere

by eastcoastatlas on Jul 21, 2011 10:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’ve gone to Shogun Fights in Baltimore three times, it’s never failed to entertain. And they’re professional.

by SkeezinSteevin on Jul 21, 2011 10:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i went to shogun fights 4 the main event turned out to be the most bloody fight

i was there with my buddy and two guys who were from a gym he was going to fought that night. they both did bad first round tko and the other first round ko. the coach was pissed at them because they really didn’t show any form of striking defense. he kept yelling he didn’t even want to look at them. the worse part the guy who got ko’ed his wife was sitting right in front of us. my friend and i both yelled oh shit thammmmmmm when he got knocked out.

by BIGNAT on Jul 21, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

lived in baltimore for 09/10. went to shogun fights. actually trained at ground control for a few months before moving back to DC for a job. thats the gym owned by John Rallo, one of the shogun fights promoters. just never been to a UFC event

"now i'm too fucked up to dance, so i'ma sit with my hand down the front of my pants" - Atmosphere

by eastcoastatlas on Jul 22, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Luke talked about this on his show

The Verizon Center is the best venue in DC, but can they fill it with a Versus card?

@dmvfightfans

by spudsucker on Jul 21, 2011 10:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If I had to bet

I suspect they’re going back to the Patriot Center. I find the notion they can fill approximately 15,000 seats in the Verizon Center with a UFC on Versus card to be highly dubious. I could be wrong. I spoke to the UFC. They have stated that DC is on their radar, but it simply does not make sense for them to attempt overreach like that.

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by Luke Thomas on Jul 21, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

I know the UFCinDC has been trying to get a response from Dana or the UFC on venue with no word.

UFCinDC.com

@dmvfightfans

by spudsucker on Jul 21, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Luke the following venues have hosted or will host Versus cards

Bradley Center (18,000)
Consol Energy Center (20,000)
KFC Yum! Center (17,500)

I doubt they expect a sell out

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by MattParker117 on Jul 21, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting

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by Luke Thomas on Jul 21, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Weekly and Junkie are confirming the Verizon Center

as the venue.

by Scott Haber on Jul 21, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough fight for Sass.

"Vikings fucked Vikings for generation after generation and their warrior bloodlines were passed on, and this motherfucker living in the woods in Minnesota got the best of the best."

by Chronic on Jul 21, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

Yup.

I love the guy’s “gimmick”, but his striking looked atrocious against Holst, and I don’t think his guard-pulls are going to work against a power wrestler like Johnson.

I want to see Sass do well, but unless he’s drastically improved his striking and takedowns, I’m sensing that Johnson will sprawl and brawl for a TKO.

by Scott Haber on Jul 21, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't feel he really displayed any striking

He seemed to use feints to setup his unorthodox guard pull. If you’ve seen some of his previous fights, you’ll see he exhibits a pretty good chin, and I think he wrangles Johnson to the ground and snatches a limb. I love Johnson, but I see Sass winning this.

"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage

by Charles Awad on Jul 21, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes

I just said I love Johnson.

"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage

by Charles Awad on Jul 21, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t feel he really displayed any striking

I remember really ugly superman punch and spinning back kick attempts that whiffed by a mile. But yes, I guess that’s not really a striking “display”.

I think he wrangles Johnson to the ground

How? His takedowns looked mediocre against Holst and although his guard-pulls eventually worked, Johnson is a much better wrestler and stronger than Holst.

I see this one looking like Aoki-Melendez, unless Johnson gets cocky, in which case it might end up like Fedor-Werdum.

by Scott Haber on Jul 21, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I just don't adhere to the "wrestling>not wrestling" line of thought so readily as some

We’ll see what happens.

"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage

by Charles Awad on Jul 21, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I have Johnson winning that way as well. Sass is interesting, but for me, it just becomes one of those things where unless he improves the other aspects of his game, he won’t be able to keep getting wins if he keeps going “back to the well” by pulling guard and trying to get a submission off his back.

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by chrisbboy82 on Jul 21, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions