#1
Dominick Cruz
(UFC Champion)
Summary: Conditioning and Punching Power
Fighter Info
From: | San Diego, California, California USA |
Fights Out Of: | San Diego, CA USA |
Age: | 26 |
Height: | 5' 8" ( 172 cm ) |
Weight: | 135 lb ( 61 kg ) |
Cruz began his professional MMA career fighting in the Rage in a Cage and Total Combat organizations. Cruz is of Mexican descent.
His first fight in the WEC was at featherweight in a title fight against Urijah Faber in which he lost by guillotine choke in the first round. He would then make his debut for WEC's 135 lb Bantamweight division at WEC 34 defeating Charlie Valencia by unanimous decision and would go on to show domination of the 135 lb Bantamweight division beating the likes of Ian McCall, Ivan Lopez and handing top contender Joseph Benavidez his first loss at WEC 42 winning all bouts by unanimous decision and winning fight of the night honors in his bout versus Benavidez.
Cruz defeated Brian Bowles via TKO (doctor stoppage) on March, 6, 2010 at WEC 47. Bowles was unable to continue after the second round after breaking his hand. It was reported that Bowles broke his hand very early in the 1st round. Cruz became the new WEC Bantamweight Champion.[3]
Cruz made his first title defense against Joseph Benavidez on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50.[4] The bout was a rematch of their contest at WEC 42, in which Cruz handed Benavidez his first career loss, via decision. Cruz defeated Benavidez again via split decision. It was announced on the same night that Scott Jorgensen would be next in line for a title shot against Cruz.
Cruz faced Jorgensen on on December 16, 2010 at WEC 53.[5] The bout marked the last Bantamweight fight, and the last Bantamweight Championship fight under the WEC banner. The title held by Cruz was officially recognized as the UFC Bantamweight Championship after the event due to the UFC/WEC merger. Cruz defeated Jorgensen via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45), to retain the WEC Bantamweight Championship and win the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[7]
A rematch with Urijah Faber is expected to take place on July 2, 2011 at UFC 132 in what will be the first defense of the new UFC Bantamweight title.
