Tag: Dominick Cruz

Dominick Cruz Clashes with Ali Abdelaziz, Calls the MMA Manager ‘Weak’

Dominick Cruz Clashes with Ali Abdelaziz, Calls the MMA Manager 'Weak'Dominick Cruz got into a heated back-and-forth with Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz after answering he would compete one…

Dominick Cruz Clashes with Ali Abdelaziz, Calls the MMA Manager 'Weak'

Dominick Cruz got into a heated back-and-forth with Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz after answering he would compete one final time in 2025.

Last week, ‘The Dominator’ revealed in an interview with TMZ Sports that he would return to the Octagon after the new year for one last dance on MMA’s biggest stage.

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“I think I got a last dance, I got one last dance in me, just to go out there and go have fun,” Cruz said. “And when I say ‘fun’ I mean ‘fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me.’ The fun comes months after that, that’s where it gets to set in and okay, that was fun.

“But I’m ready to walk into the fire again and see what life and death really looks like. And one more go at that would be a pleasure. So I’m building myself up, I’m at altitude, I’m out here in Mexico City [at the UFC Performance Institute]. Some of the best training I’ve ever had in my whole career.”

Following Cruz’s announcement, UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik took to social media and suggested a rematch with Henry Cejudo as the former two-time bantamweight titleholder’s swan song.

As it turns out, Anik’s suggestion sparked a war of words between Cruz and Abdelaziz, Cejudo’s manager. After Abdelaziz commented on Anik’s post saying a fight with Cruz would be “easy money for Henry,” ‘The Dominator’ snapped back.

Dominick Cruz

“You are simply a work mule…Your words hold no weight,” Cruz replied.

“Also, one more thing the only weight you hold is commentating on the desk, I promise you I hold a lot more weight than you in this game,” Abdelaziz wrote back.

“It’s easy money for you-as you get a percentage paid by your fighter no matter what, while you chat sh*t that you personally cannot back up,” Cruz clapped back. “You have no skin in the game, that’s what makes you weak.“

Abdelaziz says he won’t take a percentage from Cejudo if dominick cruz accepts the fight

After exchanging words, Abdelaziz said that if Cruz accepted the fight, he wouldn’t take a percentage of Cejudo’s purse.

“I will make you a deal if you fight Henry I will take zero percentage from,” Abdelaziz wrote. “I just want to see him whoop your ass and I’m sure Henry will make a lot more money than you do, you have my word as a man I will take zero percentage” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Cruz and Cejudo previously met at UFC 249 in May 2020. On that night, ‘Triple C’ scored a TKO over Cruz in the waning seconds of the second round to retain the bantamweight title. Cejudo then immediately vacated the belt, announcing he would be retiring from the sport.

Dominick Cruz

Since then, Cejudo has returned to the Octagon, losing back-to-back bouts against Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili.

Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Stand For Ali Abdelaziz’s Disrespect: ‘You Chat Sh*t That You Cannot Back Up’

In a recent interview with TMZ, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz stated that he wants to fight one last time before calling time on his career. Following a four-year break in activity, Cruz returned to the Octagon at UFC 249 in 2020 where he challenged Henry Cejudo for the 135-pound title. Since then, he […]

In a recent interview with TMZ, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz stated that he wants to fight one last time before calling time on his career. Following a four-year break in activity, Cruz returned to the Octagon at UFC 249 in 2020 where he challenged Henry Cejudo for the 135-pound title.

Since then, he has fought three more times, earning wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz before being stopped by Marlon Vera in August of 2022. “I’ll tell you, I think I got a last dance, I want one last dance in me,” Cruz told TMZ. “Just go out there and have fun, and when I say fun, I mean fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me.”

His fellow UFC commentator, Jon Anik, posting on X to suggest that a rematch with Cejudo four years down the line from their first meeting would be of interest. The post received a response from the often vocal Ali Abdelaziz who is Cejudo’s manager at Dominance MMA.

When Cruz replied to Abdelaziz calling this fight “easy money” for his fighter, the two men went back-and-forth in a series of posts.

Cruz continued to hit back at Abdelaziz and criticized him for trash talking other fighters when he doesn’t have to face any repurcusions because he still gets paid whether or not the clients that he manages win or lose.

“It’s easy money for you-as you get a percentage paid by your fighter no matter what, while you chat sh** that you personally cannot back up. You have no skin in the game, that’s what makes you weak.”

The argument continued with Cejudo also catching a few strays from Cruz who said that fighting him would be like “killing you two birds with one stone”.

“Look at your big tough guy words on X .You’re now talking about paying someone the % of money that you usually would steal from him, just to fight me for you, solely because you yourself can’t cash the checks you write with your big mouth. That’s exactly my point-that’s why you are a weakling. Henry is about as tiny a man in stature as you are mentally. You two deserve each other. Killing you two birds with one stone sounds like a lovely day of humanitarian work.”

As is often the case, Abdelaziz continued to reply until he had the last word, seemingly welcoming Cruz to do something about it physically the next time that they see each other in person.

Cody Garbrandt Reveals The Secret Behind His Win Over Dominick Cruz

What Cody Garbrandt accomplished back at UFC 207 in 2016 will go down in the UFC history books as one of the greatest performances from a title challenger that we have ever seen. The 10-0 knockout artist was a significant underdog for good reason against, arguably the greatest 135-pounder of all time, Dominick Cruz. Garbrandt […]

Continue Reading Cody Garbrandt Reveals The Secret Behind His Win Over Dominick Cruz at MMA News.

What Cody Garbrandt accomplished back at UFC 207 in 2016 will go down in the UFC history books as one of the greatest performances from a title challenger that we have ever seen. The 10-0 knockout artist was a significant underdog for good reason against, arguably the greatest 135-pounder of all time, Dominick Cruz.

Garbrandt had put together an impressive run of finishes and had a good narrative with Cruz due to the champion’s history with defeating fighters from Team Alpha Male. However, “No Love” was able to beat the champion at his own game, putting on the kind of performance that no one could have expected.

He broke down how he was able to secure the biggest win of his career and make it look easy during a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast.

Garbrandt’s Keys to Beating Dominick Cruz

Garbrandt said that he already knew a lot about Cruz heading into the fight and that removed the need for him to try and pick apart the unorthodox style that “The Dominator” used to stay a step ahead of his opponents at all times.

His incredibly unique footwork, timing and angles was something that the challenger was well prepared for due to several factors.

For a start, he was surrounded by several fighters that had already faced Cruz inside the Octagon and were able to pass what they had learned on to him. Garbrandt also came through the early stages of his career whilst watching Cruz rise through the WEC and into the UFC so he had been studying his game for many years.

Finally, as he stated on the podcast, Garbrandt also believes that his training from a young age helped him to deal with an opponent like the champion who would be constantly moving. This, he states, was the missing piece of the puzzle that so many others didn’t have.

“Like I said, watching him, I knew his rhythm and his footwork, just watching him over and over again and then just my style. For sure, my uncle was there since the beginning so he groomed me for this kind of fights. A lot of movement, staying tight, staying high guard, little angles, moving with him.

That’s one thing, I think a lot of people get in there with Dominick and they’re like, ‘Ah, his footwork, he’s unorthodox, he moves differently,’ and they just kind of like sit there and wait for him to get his rhythm. You got to dance with that guy, you can’t let him do the dance.”

Continue Reading Cody Garbrandt Reveals The Secret Behind His Win Over Dominick Cruz at MMA News.

‘Good stylistic matchup for O’Malley’ Dominick Cruz says Merab Dvalishvili will struggle

'Good stylistic matchup for O'Malley' Dominick Cruz says Merab Dvalishvili will struggleDominick Cruz believes Sean O’Malley will have a stylistic advantage against his next bantamweight title challenger, Merab Dvalishvili. The…

'Good stylistic matchup for O'Malley' Dominick Cruz says Merab Dvalishvili will struggle

Dominick Cruz believes Sean O’Malley will have a stylistic advantage against his next bantamweight title challenger, Merab Dvalishvili.

The inevitable clash between ‘Sugar’ and ‘The Machine’ does not have an official date, but all signs point toward the two going toe-to-toe in either September at Sphere in Las Vegas or in The Crossroads of the West when the UFC heads back to Salt Lake City in October.

Sean O'Malley

But no matter where their 135-pound title tilt goes down, ‘The Dominator’ believes O’Malley’s size and standup game will be more valuable than the wrestle-heavy attack of Dvalishbili.

“O’Malley has the advantage,” Cruz said on the Anik & Florian Podcast. “You saw Henry [Cejudo] was able to kind of hurt Dvalishvili a little bit and force the wrestling. So, O’Malley’s going to hit him. We’re all going to get hit. If you’re going in there expecting, ‘I’m not going to get hit once. I’m just going to finish him in a minute…’ You could, yeah, but it’s quite an expectation for yourself, so I expect he’s going to get hit.”

“The question is how is he gonna close the distance? That’s why this is a good fight for O’Malley, is the distance and the stance switches and the footwork. Stylistically, you got a short guy who wants to wrestle and we know for a fact doesn’t want to stand up. It’s not what he wants to do. It’s not where he’s comfortable, so the fight starts standing. That’s where I see it’s a good stylistic matchup for O’Malley” (h/t SI.com).

Will Merab Dvalishvili stand and trade with Sean O’Malley?

Though wrestling is undoubtedly Dvalishvili’s best path to winning a world title, the Georgian boldly claimed that he would stand and trade with O’Malley. Of course, Michael Bisping quickly called bullsh*t on that, but only time will tell if ‘The Machine’ is willing to risk it all to prove a point against one of the most intriguing strikers in the game today.

In 10 career victories under the UFC banner, Dvalishvili only has one finish to his credit — a second-round TKO against Marlon Moraes in 2021.

Merab

Jonathan Martinez Calls For Dominick Cruz Sphere Showdown After Taking Issue With His Commentary

Jonathan Martinez has a bone to pick with former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one that he wants to settle in the unique surroundings of the Sphere this fall. Martinez is on the hunt for his next assignment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a disappointing night at the office in Rio de Janeiro, […]

Continue Reading Jonathan Martinez Calls For Dominick Cruz Sphere Showdown After Taking Issue With His Commentary at MMA News.

Jonathan Martinez has a bone to pick with former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one that he wants to settle in the unique surroundings of the Sphere this fall.

Martinez is on the hunt for his next assignment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a disappointing night at the office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this past May, where he fell to defeat at the hands of the returning José Aldo in the UFC 301 co-main event.

Having risen into the rankings at 135 pounds courtesy of six straight wins following a knockout loss to Davey Grant, Martinez looked to ride the momentum from victories over Cub Swanson, Said Nurmagomedov, and Adrian Yañez into his showdown with the UFC legend.

Unfortunately for the #14-ranked contender, he was convincingly outpointed at Jeunesse Arena, and he subsequently had to watch on as Aldo returned to the top 10 spot he had desired.

A couple of months on, the Factory X standout is looking ahead to his opportunity to bounce back, and he hopes it’ll come against another prominent name in the sport…

Martinez Was ‘Never A Fan’ Of Cruz

During an interview with MMA Junkie at UFC X during International Fight Week, Martinez reflected on his setback in South America and named his preferred option moving forward.

After outlining his desire to join the lineup for the upcoming pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ Sphere on September 14, Martinez pitched former champion Dominick Cruz as the ideal opponent.

Explaining that choice, the 30-year-old Californian said he’s been noting some frustrating remarks from “The Dominator” while he’s been commentating over his fights in recent times.

“I want to be on that (Sphere) card in September,” Martinez said. “I want to be on that card, and I’ve been hearing Dominick Cruz wants to fight on that date, too. Hopefully they give me him. I just hear him every time I fight he’s always saying, ‘I don’t know why they don’t check Jonathan’s kicks.’ Put him in front of me and let him do that and see what happens.”

While analyzing his defeat to Aldo, Martinez admitted that he was somewhat starstruck by the “King of Rio” on May 4. Suffice to say, he wouldn’t have that issue should he be stood across from Cruz inside the cage down the line…

“I was never a fan. He was just there to me.”

The promotion is set to stage its second Mexican Independence Day celebration, titled Riyadh Season Noche UFC, from the Sphere on September 14.

While nothing major has been announced toward the top of the card to date, the likes of Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, Yazmin Jauregui, and Edgar Cháirez are among the names with reported matchups for the lineup thus far.

Continue Reading Jonathan Martinez Calls For Dominick Cruz Sphere Showdown After Taking Issue With His Commentary at MMA News.

Dominick Cruz eyes rematch with Henry Cejudo at UFC 306: ‘I feel like we could make an awesome fight right there’

Dominick Cruz eyes rematch with Henry Cejudo at UFC 306 I think we'd make an awesome fightFormer two-time undisputed bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz has voiced his interest in a rematch clash against former duel-weight titleholder,…

Dominick Cruz eyes rematch with Henry Cejudo at UFC 306 I think we'd make an awesome fight

Former two-time undisputed bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz has voiced his interest in a rematch clash against former duel-weight titleholder, Henry Cejudo later this summer at UFC 306 in The Sphere, claiming they could put on an “awesome” rematch fight. 

Cruz, a former two-time bantamweight titleholder and current number thirteen ranked divisional challenger, has been out of action since August 2022, most recently headlining a UFC Fight Night San Diego event.

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And despite starting well against most recent title challenger, Marlon Vera, Cruz dropped a devastating fourth round high-kick KO loss to the Ecuadorian.

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Linked with a return earlier this year, Cruz was reportedly in talks to take on the returning former featherweight champion, Jose Aldo in a ‘super fight’ from years gone by, until an undisclosed injury ruled the veteran from a UFC 301 outing.

Dominick Cruz eyes UFC 306 rematch with Henry Cejudo

However, Cruz has welcomed the chance to feature at UFC 306 in September at The Sphere in Las Vegas – eyeing the chance to take on Olympic gold medal winner, Cejudo in a re-run.

Dominick Cruz
Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

“There’s a Mexico Independence Day card coming up, and I lost a fight,” Dominick Cruz said on the Overdogs Podcast. “I look back at my loss and I lost it fair and square to Henry Cejudo, but I do believe he could get a better version of me and really face a better version of me.”

“I’ve had rematches against (Joseph) Benavidez, I’ve had rematches against Urijah Faber, I’ve had rematches against that whole Team Alpha MMA where I had to take each guy out, step by step, in order to keep my title,” Dominick Cruz explained. “So, I would love to a rematch with Henry Cejudo on Mexican Independence Day in The Sphere. I think we could make a pretty awesome fight there.” 

Would you like to see Dominick Cruz fight Henry Cejudo in a rematch at UFC 306?