Cormier on Johnson vs. Bader: “I believe Bader will make a mistake and Johnson will knock him out.”

LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT host Daniel Cormier and guest host Michael Bisping break down the upcoming FOX UFC FIGHT NIGHT: JOHNSON VS. BADER. They also interview newly crowned bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani add reports.

UFC TONIGHT host Daniel Cormier on Anthony Johnson’s keys to success against Ryan Bader: “Rumble Johnson’s power is amazing. His first key is to defend the takedown. If there’s a weakness in his game, it’s being able to take him down and hold him down. You also have to control his power. Sometimes he gets a little anxious and wants to hit with all his power. He’s got to throw more combinations when he punches. If he throws them, he can finish this fight. I believe Bader will make a mistake and Rumble will knock him out, get the finish and look impressive doing it.”

UFC TONIGHT guest host Michael Bisping on how Bader can win: “Ryan Bader is on a five-fight win streak. He’s relentless in his fights. But he’s has to stick and move. He can’t just stand in front of Johnson. He also has to close the distance. If he gets in the clinch, Johnson can’t swing. Finally, he has to use his wrestling. If he takes him down, Johnson can’t use that knockout power. If Bader uses the game plan like he did against Rashad, he can win the fight and I think he’ll get it done.”

VIDEO: Strikezone: Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping break down Anthony Johnson vs Ryan Bader

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=605439555768

Bisping on the TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz title fight: “This was the best bantamweight fight I’ve ever seen. Dom, I take my hat off to you. I was on the edge of my seat. It was a closely contested fight. You evaded TJ’s onslaught. I think TJ was a victim of his own aggression. What he should have done is thrown more feints to set up his strikes. He was so overly aggressive from the outside. You saw them coming and were able to counter.”

Dominick Cruz on what he was thinking in the fifth round: “In the fifth round, you have to know the judges and the fans are waiting to see who wants it more. You know everyone is tired. It just comes down bighting down on the mouthpiece and saying cuss words in your head about the other guy, sitting in the pocket and getting it done. Everyone knows, you can’t leave it to judges. You just try to get the percentages in you favor. Everyone thinks they can knock me out. Stop thinking it and give me some credit for the things I’m good at. I win because I give credit to the people I’m facing. I knew that TJ had a nasty offense. I know he’s going follow his hands with kicks because I slip side to side. Ludwig got very emotional and when coach gets emotional, there’s a problem.”

Cruz on how it felt being in the title fight: “It didn’t feel weird. It felt good to be there. I was nervous before, and when we were in the cage, I felt calm. I knew I was there. When they called me, I felt like I was the champion.”

Urijah Faber’s message to Cruz for a trilogy fight: “Let’s do it. I’ve been sticking around for a couple extra years waiting for you. Let’s do this. Let’s get it done.”

Cruz on Faber’s remarks: “He is old news, he’s right about that. He’s right, fans want to see it. People ask me when I’m going to beat him up. I’d be happy to shut him up. I’ve been champion for a minute and he’s already trying to politic for a shot. He’s never touched me and he won’t.”

Cruz on a possible rematch with TJ Dillashaw: “I want to take a fight the fans want to see. It was the best me that night. But it wasn’t my best. There are a lot of pieces of my game that need more rounds to build the flow, to get my body working. I’ll take anyone in the division. Who’s going to say what they’re going to do? Just talk. I felt bad for TJ that he wouldn’t talk. That’s what people want. Just talk. You know who talks? Stupid Faber, he will talk. He’s got an excuse for everything he’s lost in his life.”

VIDEO: Dominick Cruz Interview

https://youtu.be/nZ8tbiTxVe4

UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on increased drug testing in the UFC: “In the third quarter of 2015, only 50 fighters were tested for a total of 81 tests. In the fourth quarter, a total of 131 fighters were tested for 272 tests. In first 20 days of 2016, 49 fighters had 60 tests. USADA is telling me they’re ramping up big time. Lightweight champ Rafael Dos Anjos was tested twice alone last week according to his team.”

Helwani on Chris Weidman’s next fight: “He’s been keeping up with the news on Yoel Romero and the just announced Vitor – Jacare fight. He’s begun training for rematch with Luke Rockhold. He hasn’t been told he’s getting that fight yet. He says he wants to fight for it any time. At UFC 199 – any time – he wants the rematch.”

Helwani on Anthony Pettis rebounding from his loss last weekend: “I talked to several members of his team and he is fired up. He will take any fight right now. He wants to get in there right away. He wants to right that wrong. He’s not happy about the performance. He’d take a fight with Nate Diaz. He’s not calling anyone out, but he wants to get back in there ASAP.”

VIDEO: Inside The Octagon with Ariel Helwani

https://youtu.be/TPCBU0HRCuA

VIDEO: Joanna Jędrzejczyk discusses her coaching role on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=605417539575

For notes, coverage, bios, photography and more, visit the FOX UFC page on FOX Sports Press Pass.

UFC TONIGHT

UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on FS1. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian, light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant and five-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani bring you all the news and analysis.

Follow on Twitter at: @DC_MMA @Bisping @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FS1