Cruz ready for title defense vs. Benavidez

Leading up to his fight in March, Dominick Cruz said he was putting every ounce of his energy and focus into winning the World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight title.

Now, with the belt wrapped around his waist, Cruz said he knows he will need that same intensity as he prepares for his first defense against Joseph Benavidez in the main event of WEC 50 at the Palms on Wednesday.

“I think everybody in the division has the same mindset I do, and that’s why I train the way I do,” he said after a Monday workout at the Palms. “I feel like I have to match up with every other 135-pounder in the world who’s just as hungry to have the belt as I am to keep it.”

Cruz won a unanimous decision over Benavidez last August, which earned him the title shot against Brian Bowles in March.

“I’m as motivated as I’ve ever been my entire life to keep this belt,” he said. “It’s more than just a belt for me. This is a representation of my life and how I carry myself.”

The card will air live on Versus (Cable 38) at 6 p.m.

■ CARWIN NAMED IN TRIAL — UFC heavyweight contender Shane Carwin was named as one of the clients of convicted steroid supplier J. Michael Bennett during the pharmacist’s sentencing hearing on Friday in Mobile, Ala., according to the Press-Register.

Carwin allegedly received shipments from Bennett’s company, Applied Pharmacy Services, in 2006, two years before he signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Carwin could not be reached for comment. A representative for Dana White said the UFC president would have no comment at this time.

■ MMA IN ONTARIO — Officials from the province of Ontario will take steps to allow MMA events beginning in 2011, according to a surprise announcement released Saturday by a government official.

The decision comes just months after Premier Dalton McGuinty said sanctioning MMA was “not a priority.”

“Our government has been monitoring MMA for some time. We know that the sport has evolved and that Ontarians want to see it here.” Sophia Aggelonitis, minister of consumer services, said in the statement. “My goal is to make sure we have the tools to keep the competitors safe, and provide an economic boost to communities that want to host professional MMA events.”

The UFC has been pursuing sanctioning in Ontario for quite some time, even opening an office in Toronto earlier this year.

The organization is expected to stage an event at the massive Rogers Centre early in 2011.

■ GOOD WEEK FOR COUTURE — Ryan Couture, the son of UFC star Randy Couture, submitted Lucas Stark in just 1 minute, 15 seconds to win his professional debut on a Strikeforce Challengers card in Phoenix on Friday night.

It was part of a successful week for Randy Couture, a Las Vegan who is currently training to fight James Toney at UFC 118 in Boston on Aug. 28.

“The Expendables,” a movie Couture is featured in along with a who’s who of action stars including Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li, placed No. 1 at the box office by bringing in nearly $35 million in its opening weekend.

Also on the Phoenix card, Meisha Tate picked up two victories in one night to win Strikeforce’s first women’s tournament. Tate also earned a future title shot.

■ MORE STRIKEFORCE — The organization will host another card in Houston on Saturday night, headlined by Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal’s first light heavyweight title defense, against Rafael Cavalcante.

The card will air tape-delayed on Showtime (Cable 240) at 10 p.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.