Longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Urijah Faber is gearing up for his rubber match with Dominick Cruz, which takes place at the upcoming UFC 199 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat., June 4, 2016 inside The Forum in Los Angeles, California.
“The California Kid” went down on points the last time they fought, a five-round headliner at UFC 132 in summer 2011. So, what’s changed between now and then? According to Faber’s conversation with the boys at Submission Radio, quite a bit.
Especially now that Dominick Cruz (and everyone else) must answer to United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA):
“I’ve seen a drastic change in his body from the very first time that I fought him, to a year later when he fought, when he took the whole year off and came back all ripped. Then he looked pretty good two years ago when he made his long-awaited return, physically. And then all of a sudden he’s got floppy boobs and back fat. I mean, there’s no secret what’s going on there – and I know he knows it. The truth is, I’ve looked the same since I’ve been like 13-years-old. I’ve continued to be an athlete, I’ve continued to stay healthy. There’s something fishy going on there, and he knows and I know, that there’s a big advantage coming to me because of that. And I’ll just leave that at that and let USADA do their job.”
Faber insists he’s still in for a tough fight, despite his opponent’s decline in physicality.
Cruz was sidelined for the better part of five years as a result of recurring injuries. Now that he’s back on top — thanks to a unanimous decision victory over TJ Dillashaw — it’s almost like he never left. Faber hopes to change that when they collide in less than two months.
For much more on that pending rubber match click here.