Despite the injuries and removed bouts scheduled for UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber, it is still an extremely exciting card. The entire event, from top to bottom, is stacked and perhaps the strongest of the year. The preliminary card alone could be its own ev…
Despite the injuries and removed bouts scheduled for UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber, it is still an extremely exciting card. The entire event, from top to bottom, is stacked and perhaps the strongest of the year. The preliminary card alone could be its own event on Spike TV or Versus.
There are some key matchups, particularly in the lightweight division, that could clear up some of the confusion and create some real contenders. There’s a few potential barnburners and a title on the line.
Let’s break down each bout and select likely winners, shall we?
The UFC’s first ever bantamweight title fight is almost a week away, with UFC 132 showcasing a huge grudge match between champion Dominick Cruz and top contender Urijah Faber.It’s no secret that Cruz and Faber have a lot of bad blood between them stemm…
The UFC’s first ever bantamweight title fight is almost a week away, with UFC 132 showcasing a huge grudge match between champion Dominick Cruz and top contender Urijah Faber.
It’s no secret that Cruz and Faber have a lot of bad blood between them stemming from their last match four years ago. In recent months, this feud has grown as the July 2nd bout draws closer, with this extended war of words a bit of an oddity for Faber.
“I’ve never been really an emotional fighter,” Faber told the press at Tuesday’s conference call, “but that’s because I’m usually indifferent or like the guy I’m fighting.”
Asked if they would bury the hatchet after the fight, Faber simply replied, “For the record, after the last time we fought, we didn’t become friends afterwards.”
It’s interesting to see how both fighters have changed since Faber choked Cruz out in 2007.
Back then, Faber was rolling over guys without even going through full training camps with his current team. In fact, Faber didn’t enter his normal fight routine until 2008, almost two years into his reign as the WEC Featherweight champion.
“I hadn’t started with my new trainer yet, my first fight under a full training camp under Master Tong was the Jens Pulver fight,” Faber said.
Meanwhile, Cruz hasn’t lost a fight since succumbing to Faber’s guillotine, finding success as the champion at 135. Cruz has improved every aspect of his game en route to the title.
For Faber as well, the drop to bantamweight has been accompanied by many great changes in his fight game.
“I’m smaller and faster and at my more natural competition weight and I’ve improved,” he said. “I never stop improving on my Jiu-Jitsu. I never stop improving on my wrestling. I feel like I’m in the prime of my life.”
Faber went on to say that his experience as the headliner of many title fights will also be a major factor in this bout. He believes that his fights, especially his losses to Mike Brown and Jose Aldo, have given him the ability ease his nerves.
“I really enjoy what I’m doing. I don’t sweat the little stuff,” he said.
He admits, however, that this shot at the belt will be quite different, considering that this time it is for UFC gold.
“There’s a little bit more attached to it I think,” Faber said, going on to say that he feels “a little bit antsy” as well.
What hasn’t wavered throughout the years has been his confidence, an attitude that the “California Kid” always sports.
“Bottom line is, I’m the best 135-pounder in the world and it’s my time to prove it.”
UFC 132 Fight Card: Full Preview and Breakdown of the Stacked CardBleacher Report’s Andrew Mahlmann:We have been spoiled with three UFC events in June but on the Fourth of July weekend, the UFC is pulling out all the stops and giving us the first tru…
UFC 132 Fight Card: Full Preview and Breakdown of the Stacked Card
Bleacher Report’s Andrew Mahlmann:
We have been spoiled with three UFC events in June but on the Fourth of July weekend, the UFC is pulling out all the stops and giving us the first truly stacked card of the summer.
Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will defend his UFC belt for the first time when he takes on the only man to ever defeat him, MMA superstar Urijah Faber.
That fight is worth a PPV by itself but the whole card is stacked with superstars and especially compelling matchups.
I am not just talking about the main card either. Every fight is awesome, all the way down to the first preliminary bout.
If you will not be able to see many fireworks on the Fourth of July, do not worry—UFC 132 on July 2nd is going to have all the fireworks you could possibly handle
UFC 132 Fight Card: 10 Million-Dollar Predictions for the UFC 132 Fight CardBleacher Report’s Dale De Souza:UFC 131 is in the books, capped off beautifully by an outstanding Heavyweight war between Junior “Cigano” dos Santos and Shane Carwin on a nigh…
UFC 132 Fight Card: 10 Million-Dollar Predictions for the UFC 132 Fight Card
Bleacher Report’s Dale De Souza:
UFC 131 is in the books, capped off beautifully by an outstanding Heavyweight war between Junior “Cigano” dos Santos and Shane Carwin on a night where the judging issue started to raise malevolent mentalities in the minds of the fans.
Arguably, many fans believe that while the victories of Mark Munoz and Kenny Florian cannot provide true dispute, The argument of Munoz and Florian earning 30-27 scores is definitely disputed as it seemed clear that Demian Maia and Diego “The Gun” Nunes won the first round of their respective bouts.
At this time, however, that argument is neither here nor there, as we must look forward into UFC 132 in a little bit less than three weeks instead of solidly planting ourselves in the memories of last night.
Headlined by a grudge match between current UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber and co-headlined by a Fight of The Year candidate-on-paper in the long-awaited Middleweight collision between Wanderlei Silva and Chris Leben, the UFC 132 fight card will pick up where UFC 131 left off, focusing mostly on the Light-and-Lighterweight classes and hopefully elevate the momentum gained from last night’s card to a brand new level.
Tito Ortiz Lets It All Hang out on Twitter: Physically and EmotionallyNews piece from early in June:Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz is having a bad week on twitter. First, he has a spat with his girlfriend Jenna Jameson and then he has his phone hacked…
Tito Ortiz Lets It All Hang out on Twitter: Physically and Emotionally
News piece from early in June:
Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz is having a bad week on twitter. First, he has a spat with his girlfriend Jenna Jameson and then he has his phone hacked and a nude picture of him is sent to his followers.
Ortiz and Jameson recently took to twitter to air the differences. The folks over at FightOpinion compiled the better tweets:
Tito Ortiz:
@FreakyFella no sick of being treated like s**t with no support. U get to read half the s**t I go though.
Not nuts just done with the lies and deceit. The hand I was holding was bring me down now a will let go
Ok im done talking about this s**t. I found some s**t out that happen from a few friends. First time my bad ,second her bad ,third I should of believe the first time. Will find someone who respects and supports me. Life will go on! I will stay strong.
Jenna Jameson:
I am perfect, saying mean lies on twitter is wrong. I am a mother, and I love Tito and my children.
I love him, and he is angry. I stand behind him no matter how much he lashes out at me
I love @titoortiz and will fight for him forever. No matter what he sais
My children are my main priority, lies about fatherhood is yucky. Just be a dad and stop partying and train…your fight is soon.
I love @titoortiz and I would never disrespect him with another man. I’m a good girl, and mommy!
I want the real @titoortiz back. He used to be loving, I get how a lot of you think I’m garbage, but he’s me babies daddy, and I love him
Ortiz’s struggles with twitter continued on Thursday when, according to TMZ.com, a nude picture of Ortiz showed up on his twitter feed. The picture was quickly taken down with Ortiz then posting, “Someone hack my f**king phone.”
Ortiz will be fighting for his UFC career when he meets Ryan Bader at UFC 132 on July 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. UFC president Dana White has said that a loss at UFC 132 would most likely result in the promotion releasing the former champion.
In a UFC media call earlier today, we heard from bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as he prepares for his upcoming title defense against former champion, current No. 1 contender and all-around fan favorite, Urijah Faber. Bleacher Report will take a l…
In a UFC media call earlier today, we heard from bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as he prepares for his upcoming title defense against former champion, current No. 1 contender and all-around fan favorite, Urijah Faber.
Bleacher Report will take a look at some of the quotes given by Cruz in response to questions from various media outlets.
UFC 132: Dominick Cruz is “Not Fond of Urijah Faber”
Q: Do you fight any differently when you dislike your opponent?
A: “I do a pretty good job at not making it emotional in my brain. While I’m not too fond of Faber, at the same time, once I get into a fight, I fight just as hard as [with] somebody that I don’t like as [with] someone I have no problem with.”
A: “We’ll see how the fight goes…I’m just going to take it in stride. It is what it is.
”UFC 132: Dominick Cruz is a Completely Different Fighter
Q: What will be the difference between the Cruz who fought Faber before and the Cruz who will fight him at UFC 132?
A: You can look at my fights and see a big difference in every fight since I fought him; jits, ground game, wrestling, my body has changed, you name it. It’s been four years, you know. Everything has different in this fight.
“He’ll be fighting a completely different person.”
UFC 132: Dominick Cruz is Excited to be Headlining UFC 132
Q: How does it feel to be a 135 lb fighter and headlining a PPV UFC event?
A: “The division has exploded. It means a lot to be able to represent the weight class.”
“I’m cutting a lot of weight. It’s a lot harder to make the weight. It’s almost the sacrifice [of cutting weight] that gets me into fight mode. I feel that’s why 135 is such a good weight for me.”