Dominick Cruz completed one of the greatest comebacks in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA), defeating T.J. Dillashaw to recapture the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight title at last weekend’s (Sun,, Jan. 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 81 event in Boston, Massachusetts afters years of turmoil and injuries.
Soon thereafter, an old “friend” resurfaced, too, as Urijah Faber took the opportunity to call out “The Dominator” to a championship trilogy match. And while Cruz initially seemed disinterested (see it), he is actually all for a third fight against “California Kid.”
As he recently declared on “The MMA Hour,” he will take on anyone UFC matchmakers offer him … as long as he gets compensated accordingly for it.
“I don’t really care. The fans want to see Faber because we were supposed to have that third outing and he’s the only guy who beat me back in 2007. I don’t have any problem facing Faber, I don’t have any problem facing any of these guys, I just want to be compensated for it. I want to make the best out of it. I think at this point in my career, with the things that I’ve been able to be blessed to do and keep my body for, it’s not the easiest for me to stay in there and stay busy. I just want to make the best of it you know? I want to make the best of it with the best fights I can. Quality over quantity if need be.”
Cruz and Faber were set to tango in trilogy bout back in 2012 before an injury to Cruz’s ACL scratched the much-anticipated championship clash. But, now that Cruz is back at the top of the 135-pound mountain, the two men could finally be gearing up for a chance to settle their score once and for all.
Of course, if the Zuffa higher-ups have come correct with the cash.
In addition, the oft-injured “Dominator” has to see what his upcoming MRI reveals regarding his ongoing battle with plantar fascia tendonitis (foot), a painful heel condition that often requires significant rest and physical therapy to correct.