Dominick Cruz
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Name | Dominick Cruz |
| Nickname | Dominator | |
| Association | Alliance MMA | |
| Weight Class | Bantamweight (135 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 8" (173 cm) | |
| Reach | 69.0 in (175 cm) | |
| Style | Wrestling, Boxing | |
| Birth Date | September 3, 1983 | |
| Fighting Out Of | San Diego, California | |
| Country | USA | |
| Dominick Cruz Pictures | Official Website |
Dominick Cruz is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently signed as a Bantamweight with the WEC. His first fight in the WEC was at Featherweight in a title fight against Urijah Faber. After dropping down to Bantamweight after hist WEC Featherweight title shot, Cruz made a big impact in the Bantamweight division, earning a shot at then-current champion Brian Bowles. He is now the current WEC Bantamweight Champion, defeating Bowles by TKO (Doctor Stoppage).
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 19 - 1 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 6 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 11 Decisions 1 Other |
| Losses | 0 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 0 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Demetrious Johnson | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson | 10/01/2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended UFC Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | Urijah Faber | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber 2 | 7/02/2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended UFC Bantamweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Scott Jorgensen | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis | 12/16/2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended WEC Bantamweight Championship; Won first-ever UFC Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (Split) | WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 | 8/18/2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended WEC Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | Brian Bowles | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz | 3/06/2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Won WEC Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles | 8/09/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Ivan Lopez | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 40: Torres vs. Mizugaki | 4/05/2009 | 3 | 3:24 | Bout ended due to accidental knee by Cruz and went to the judges |
| Win | Ian McCall | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone | 1/25/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Charlie Valencia | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 34: Faber vs. Pulver | 6/01/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Bantamweight debut |
| Win | Kenneth Aimes | KO | TC 27: Total Combat 27 | 3/22/2008 | 1 | N/A | Won Total Combat Featherweight Championship |
| Loss | Urijah Faber | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | WEC 26: Condit vs. Alessio | 3/24/2007 | 1 | 1:38 | WEC debut, For WEC Featherweight Championship |
| Win | Shad Smith | Decision (Unanimous) | TC 18: Nightmare | 11/04/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Juan Miranda | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | TC 16: Annihilation | 9/09/2006 | 1 | 4:00 | |
| Win | Dave Hisquierdo | Decision (Split) | TC 15: Total Combat 15 | 7/15/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Michael Barney | TKO | RITC 79: The Rage Returns | 2/24/2006 | 1 | 2:45 | |
| Win | Nick Hedrick | Decision (Unanimous) | RITC 75: Friday Night Fights | 9/30/2005 | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Win | Josh Donahue | TKO | RITC 74: In Your Face | 9/10/2005 | 2 | 1:09 | |
| Win | Tom Schwager | TKO | RITC 73: Arizona vs. Nevada | 8/06/2005 | 1 | 0:56 | |
| Win | Rosco McClellan | TKO | RITC 70: Rage in the Cage 70 | 6/11/2005 | 2 | 1:26 | |
| Win | Eddie Castro | Decision (Split) | RITC 67: Back to the Dodge | 1/29/2005 | 3 | 3:00 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Dominick Cruz first began competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2005, where he fought his first six bouts in the Rage in the Cage promotion, winning all of his fights. He next fought in Total Combat on three separate occasions, once again, winning all three, and continuing his undefeated streak.
After going 9-0, Cruz was brought in to fight Urijah Faber for the WEC Featherweight Championship, where Cruz suffered his first career loss via Guillotine Choke in the first round.
Cruz returned to Total Combat, winning their Featherweight title and then returning to the WEC at WEC 34: Faber vs. Pulver to take on Charlie Valencia. He won a unanimous decision.
In his next two fights, he won via unanimous decisions as well, against Ian McCall and Ivan Lopez.
He next took on Urijah Faber-trained Joseph Benavidez at WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles, making his Bantamweight debut. The two fought a hard fought three rounds, ending with Cruz winning a unanimous decision victory, handing Benavidez his first career loss. The win placed him as the number one contender for a Bantamweight title shot. The fight also won Fight of the Night Honors.
After much deliberation, in December of 2009, the WEC decided that Cruz would be the next challenger for the WEC Bantamweight Championship, held by Brian Bowles. This will be the second title shot that Cruz will have, though this time it will be for the Bantamweight title, as his WEC debut was for the WEC Featherweight title, where he faced Urijah Faber. The bout took place at WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz on March 6, 2010. Cruz used blindingly fast footwork, along with a pinpoint jab and stunning right hand counters, to frustrate Bowles. At the end of round two, the Doctors came in to examine Bowles, and after determining the once-undefeated fighter had a broken hand, the fight was waved off. At 5:00 of round 2, Cruz was the new WEC Bantamweight Champion.
Defending the Title
Cruz's first title defense took place at WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 on August 18, 2010 against Joseph Benavidez. The two matched off previously, when Cruz first made his Bantamweight debut, where Cruz won the Decision (Unanimous). Since being defeated by Cruz, Benavidez had racked up two impressive wins over Rani Yahya and former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres, to earn the shot at the title, as well as the re-match.
The fight was an evenly matched bout, where the two fighters stayed light on their feet in the earlier rounds, though there were takedowns. Cruz used his effective stick-and-move game plan that resulted in the fight's momentum swinging to the champ's favor, even if slightly. In the Championship rounds, there was more action on the mat and Cruz took plenty of punishment, and Benavidez proved a game opponent, but in the end, the judges gave the nod to the champion and awarded him the Decision (Split) victory via scores of 47-48, 48-47 and 49-46.
It was announced during the event that Cruz's next challenger would be Scott Jorgensen, who defeated Brad Pickett on the same card.
Ranks and Titles
- Total Combat 145 & 155 lbs. Champion
- Number 1 Ranked ROTC Fighter
- WEC Bantamweight Champion (2010)
