Tag: Dominick Cruz

Former Champion Dominick Cruz Returns to the Commentary Table in Place of Joe Rogan at UFC 297

Dominick CruzTwo-time bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz will return to the commentary booth for the promotion’s first pay-per-view event of 2024….

Dominick Cruz

Two-time bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz will return to the commentary booth for the promotion’s first pay-per-view event of 2024.

On Saturday (January 20), the Ultimate Fighting Championship will head to the mysterious land of Toronto, Canada for UFC 297. Emanating from Scotiabank Arena, the event will be headlined by an all-too-personal clash between South African contender Dricus Du Plessis and the reigning and defending middleweight world champion, Sean Strickland.

The co-main event of the evening will serve to crown a new women’s bantamweight titleholder as division veteran Raquel Pennington takes on the streaking Mayra Bueno Silva.

With less than a week to go until fight night, the promotion has not yet released details regarding who will be guiding us through the loaded night of fights. Per a report from MMA Junkie, Jon Anik will be your play-by-play man while Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz are set to join him at the desk and lend their unique perspective on the evening’s action. Cruz will take Joe Rogan’s place as the longtime commentator and popular podcaster no longer travels outside of the U.S. for UFC events.

Joining the trio will be UFC correspondent Megan Olivi who will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage throughout the evening.

The full card for UFC 297 is as follows:

MAIN CARD

  • Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis – Middleweight Title Fight
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – Vacant Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight
  • Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
  • Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
  • Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev

PRELIMS

  • Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson
  • Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield
  • Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
  • Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson
  • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Priscila Cachoeira
  • Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick

As always, the card is subject to change.

Cody Garbrandt shuts down talk of UFC 300 rematch with Dominick Cruz: ‘That fight doesn’t interest me’

Cody Garbrandt shuts down UFC 300 rematch with Dominick Cruz that fight doesn't interest meAmid calls from the mixed martial arts fanbase for a bantamweight rematch between former champions, Cody Garbrandt and Dominick…

Cody Garbrandt shuts down UFC 300 rematch with Dominick Cruz that fight doesn't interest me

Amid calls from the mixed martial arts fanbase for a bantamweight rematch between former champions, Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz at UFC 300 in April of next year, the former has claimed a potential re-do with the latter simply does not interest him at the moment.

Garbrandt, a former undisputed bantamweight champion, made his return to the Octagon at UFC 296 earlier this month, extending his winning streak to two fights for the first time since 2016, landing a first round KO win over Brian Kelleher.

As for Cruz, the San Diego favorite has yet to make his return to the Octagon since he saw his impressive two-fight winning run halted by incoming UFC 299 headliner and title challenger, Marlon Vera – courtesy of a hellacious high-kick knockout at UFC San Diego back in August of last year. 

Sharing the Octagon at UFC 206 back in 2016, the then-unbeaten, Garbrandt turned in a remarkable performance against two-time gold holder, Cruz, landing a dominant unanimous decision win over the veteran in a massive upset victory in the pair’s co-main event slot.

Cody Garbrandt dismisses Dominick Cruz rematch

And despite calling for a rescheduled pairing with former flyweight gold holder, Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 next year, Garbrandt has been urged to rematch Cruz at the monumental event, however, insists he has no interest in a re-run.

“Honestly, that fight [with Dominick Cruz] doesn’t interest me,” Cody Garbrandt told ESPN. “What else am I supposed to do with the guy? I mean, go in and knock him out this time? That’s the onle thing that would go put a statement or top that. It’s so hard to top that performance.”

“At the end of the day, Deiveson Figueiredo coming to the bantamweight division and having a win over Rob Font, I go knock Deiveson out, and it puts me right back in title contention,” Cody Garbrandt explained. “That’s what I’m here to do. I don’t want to be a runnerup in this sport. I always wnat to be at the top. I think that fight stylistically and everything it mounts to put me back in the top.” 

Would you like to see Cody Garbrandt fight Dominick Cruz at UFC 300?

Report: Deiveson Figueiredo set for bantamweight debut against Dominick Cruz in September

FigueiredoFormer UFC champions will collide when Deiveson Figueiredo makes his bantamweight division debut against two-time former titleholder Dominick Cruz. First reported by Igor Ribeiro, Figueiredo will make his official move to 135 in September for a clash with division staple Dominick Cruz. A specific date was not provided, but the likeliest scenario will pit the […]

Figueiredo

Former UFC champions will collide when Deiveson Figueiredo makes his bantamweight division debut against two-time former titleholder Dominick Cruz.

First reported by Igor Ribeiro, Figueiredo will make his official move to 135 in September for a clash with division staple Dominick Cruz. A specific date was not provided, but the likeliest scenario will pit the two fighters against one another on September 9 when the promotion heads back to Australia for UFC 293.

“Deiveson Figueiredo is very close to dating his debut in the French pesos,” Ribeiro said in a translated tweet. “The former flyweight champion negotiates to face Dominick Cruz, in September. Or verbal agreement is feito! ‘My employer is talking. It will be now for September,’” Figueiredo confirmed per the report.

Figueiredo and Cruz Will Both Be Looking to Get Back in the Win Column

Deiveson Figueiredo will make his way to the bantamweight division after etching his name in the history books at flyweight, capturing the 125-pound crown twice, and competing in the promotion’s first-ever quadrilogy against reigning flyweight champ Brandon Moreno. Boasting a 10-3-1 record inside the Octagon, 21-3-1 overall, ‘Deus Da Guerra’ will look to add another division’s gold to his already impressive collection.

But first, Figueiredo will need to pass a very tough test when he meets perhaps the most celebrated bantamweight in the history of MMA, Dominick Cruz. ‘The Dominator’ was long considered to be the best 135’er in the game, but a series of serious injuries plagued Cruz throughout his career and kept him out of the Octagon for long stretches of time. During his time away, Cruz has made his presence known at the commentary table, often working alongside Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik to offer his own unique take on the fight game during live broadcasts.

Cruz’s last appearance inside the Octagon came in August 2022 when he suffered a brutal fourth-round head kick KO against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. Prior to that, Cruz had back-to-back wins against Casey Kenny and Pedro Munhoz.

Cody Garbrandt reveals offer to rematch UFC great Dominick Cruz in July: ‘He’s a legend of the sport’

Cody Garbrandt offer to rematch Dominick Cruz in July UFCFormer undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt has been revealed he’s been offered the opportunity to rematch fellow former division titleholder, Dominick Cruz as soon as July of this year by the promotion, following his recent return to the winner’s enclosure. Garbrandt, who was expected to fight WEC veteran, Rani Yahya at UFC 285 earlier […]

Cody Garbrandt offer to rematch Dominick Cruz in July UFC

Former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt has been revealed he’s been offered the opportunity to rematch fellow former division titleholder, Dominick Cruz as soon as July of this year by the promotion, following his recent return to the winner’s enclosure.

Garbrandt, who was expected to fight WEC veteran, Rani Yahya at UFC 285 earlier this month, managed to return to winning ways against short-notice replacement, Trevin Jones – securing an impressive unanimous decision victory.

As for Cruz, the former two-time undisputed bantamweight champion, has been sidelined since headlining UFC Fight Night San Diego back in August of last year, suffering a high kick knockout loss to incoming UFC Fight Night San Antonio headliner, Marlon Vera.

Initially matching with power-puncher, Garbrandt in the co-main event of UFC 2017 in December 2016, Cruz dropped his undisputed bantamweight crown to the then-undefeated Garbrandt, in one of the most heralded championship challengers in the history of the Octagon.

Cody Garbrandt reveals an offer to rematch Dominick Cruz is on the table

Voicing his interest in a rescheduled fight against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Yahya in the future, Garbrandt also revealed he had been approached with a rematch offer against Cruz for a UFC event in July.

“It was a good fight, man – he’s (Dominick Cruz) a legend of the sport,” Cody Garbrandt told MMA Junkie Radio during an interview. “It was a great night for me to fight such a masterclass performance gaainst one of the greatest bantamweights to ever do it. And it wa great, you know? He’s still out here plugging along and doing his thing. It’s funny, Ali (Abdelaziz) hit me up the other day and was like, ‘Hey, would you like to do a Dominick Cruz rematch in July?’”

“… I’ve got nothing against Dominick, I have a lot of respect for him – not that I didn’t prior to us fighting,” Cody Garbrandt explained. “I have a lot of respect for him you know, and understanding of him. We’ve had a lot of conversations. We run into each other – I mean, that night was just my night. I feel like any night against Dominick Cruz will be my night, for sure.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Deiveson Figueiredo Targets Former UFC Champion For Bantamweight Debut

Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo wants a massive name as he gets ready for his move to bantamweight. Figueiredo is moving up to 135lbs after his loss to Brandon Moreno in their flyweight title tetralogy at UFC 283. He lost the fight vi…

Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo wants a massive name as he gets ready for his move to bantamweight. Figueiredo is moving up to 135lbs after his loss to Brandon Moreno in their flyweight title tetralogy at UFC 283. He lost the fight via doctor’s stoppage after winning their third fight at UFC 270 last…

Continue Reading Deiveson Figueiredo Targets Former UFC Champion For Bantamweight Debut at MMA News.