The Ultimate Fighting Championship has made the upcoming UFC bantamweight title fight between champion Dominick “Dominator” Cruz (17-1), and former WEC featherweight title holder Urijah “California Kid” Faber (25-4), official for UFC 132 in July. The rematch between the two fighters has been designated as the main event for the Las Vegas show.
UFC President Dana White commented on the fight, “This is the biggest bantamweight title fight ever, as UFC 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz has verbally agreed to face Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in July. Cruz is unbeaten at bantamweight, but he’s looking for revenge against the only man to beat him at 145 pounds, former champ Faber.”
UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber will take place on July 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Faber won their first meeting back in March of 2007, a WEC featherweight title defense for the “California Kid” who would earn a quick victory after sinking in a guillotine choke forcing Cruz to tap at 1:38.
That loss, was Cruz’ only defeat of his career and enters this fight on an eight fight win streak. The bout will also mark “Dominator’s” UFC debut since winning the title last December at WEC 53, by defeating Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision. Since that win, Cruz has been recovering from hand surgery to repair damage he received defending his belt against Joseph Benavidez last August. He earned a split decision over Benavidez in his first title defense.
Faber is now 2-0 since dropping to 135 pounds after losing to featherweight champion José Aldo at WEC 48 almost one year ago. Faber made his UFC just last weekend in the co-main event of UFC 128 by earning a unanimous decision against Eddie Wineland. The other victory at bantamweight for Faber, was a first round technical submission against Takeya Mizugaki in the headliner of WEC 52 last November. Faber is 3-1 in his last four matches.