Tag: Dominick Cruz

Following his first-round victory of rival Cody Garbrandt at last weekend’s UFC 227 – his second consecutive stoppage over “No Love” – bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw proclaimed he is the best 135-pound talent to ever compete in the UFC.

There’s at least one man who vehemently disagrees with that, however, and that’s the man who ended “The Viper’s” initial title reign.

Decorated former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz detailed his view on the subject during an appearance on today’s “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show,” noting that the simple fact he had beaten Dillashaw (even by split decision) meant the current champ was not the best bantamweight of all-time:

“The problem is, I beat him already. You can’t be the best unless you beat the guy that beat you. It’s just common sense. Everybody in the world knows that, including him.”

With his resumé building rapidly as he puts down one top contender after another, there’s no doubt that “The Viper” is one of the best 135-pound fighters in MMA history.

But he’s only defended the title once during his current reign, and Cruz did so five times in the WEC/UFC. With flyweight champion Henry Cejudo campaigning to fight Dillashaw, Cruz said the fact he has the most title defenses in division history is why he deserves the next title shot:

“I know I deserve that title shot,” said Cruz, “because I defended that title more times than anyone in the history of the division.”

Like that of Dillashaw, it’s not Cruz’ illustrious record keeping him from getting a title fight, it’s the never-ending injuries that have kept him from fighting with any degree of consistency over the last several years. He’s currently dealing with an almost two-year layoff since his decision loss to Garbrandt right now.

Recovering from plantar fascia tendinitis and a broken arm, Cruz says he’s now healed and ready to return this autumn. When he does, he believes he’s the only man capable of defeating Dillashaw:

“I feel 100 percent,” he said. “My body’s feeling good.

“It’s good that he’s hyping himself up to think that. It is. That’s what you’re supposed to be thinking,” Cruz said. “But I’m still right here, very relevant, regardless of the multiple injuries that I’ve had in my career. I think everybody in the world knows that I’m still extremely relevant, probably the only guy who will beat him in this division.”

The post Dominick Cruz Destroys TJ Dillashaw’s GOAT Claim appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Dominick Cruz is ready to get back inside the Octagon.

The former UFC 135-pound champ was forced out of a previously scheduled match-up with Jimmie Rivera back in December due to an arm injury. Cruz and fellow FOX analyst Michael Bisping, spoke at a media event yesterday (Thurs. July 26, 2018) at the Fairmont Palliser in Canada.

When asked about when mixed martial arts (MMA) fans might see him return to action, Cruz revealed he was recently cleared to compete a doctor. He hopes to fight the winner of the UFC 227 pay-per-view (PPV) main event between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt for the bantamweight title by the end of the year (via MMA Fighting):

“I don’t know, I just got cleared by the doctor so I’m good to go,” said Cruz. “I’ll talk to (UFC matchmaker Sean) Shelby, I’ll talk to everybody. I’m on track though.

“So I will be going to fight. I’m going to fight before the end of the year is my goal so we’ll see what happens. … I know T.J. Dillashaw and Cody are fighting and I should be having the winner of that.

“That’s what everybody wants to see so hopefully somebody gets some wits about them and gives me that fight right away. We’ll see what happens.”

Cruz has had run-ins with both Garbrandt and Dillashaw before. Cruz defeated Dillashaw back in January of 2016 to recapture the 135-pound title. He lost the strap to Garbrandt at the end of the year via unanimous decision.

His collision with Garbrandt in December of 2016 was the last we’ve seen of Cruz inside the cage due to a string of injuries keeping him sidelined. Cruz has a pre-installed rivalry with both Dillashaw and Garbrandt, so either match-up would receive a proper build-up to get fans hyped.

With rising contender Marlon Moraes waiting in the wings, however, Cruz might find himself in an eliminator fight before getting the title nod right off the bat.

The post Dominick Cruz Cleared To Return, Reveals Target Date appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.