Tension is building between former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (26-5) and reigning UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (19-1) and they will both be fighting in a highly anticipated rematch later this year.
The first time they met, Cruz was undefeated and 9-0 in MMA. In his first bout in the WEC, he lost to “The California Kid” by guillotine choke in the first round. It would be the most important thing to happen to him in his career, as he would go on to win every fight after that, including a rematch with Faber at UFC 136.
“The guy is a good fighter,” said Faber, who dropped a unanimous decision loss to Cruz two fights ago. “The guy is good at what he does, which is scoring some points. He’s not dangerous. He’s not scary. I knocked him down three different times in three different rounds. He had 11 takedown attempts and basically got one and a half.”
Cruz’s win-streak includes wins over Faber, Demetrious Johnson, Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles. He also holds a win over UFC flyweight contender Ian McCall.
“If the guy thinks I don’t know how to beat him, I already did beat him,” Faber continued. “The guy is alive right now ’cause there are rules in MMA and I had to release his neck and let him breathe so you’re welcome Dominick Cruz, for giving you life and letting you live. Next time, I’m going to do the same thing. I’m going to let you live, but it’s going to be painful.”
Faber will enter the bout having come off his impressive second round submission win over Bowles, which took place at UFC 139.
The bout is expected to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 7 and will be following The Ultimate Fighter 15, where Cruz and Faber will both be opposing coaches.
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