Dominick Rogelio Cruz
Cruz is noted for his unorthodox movement, powerful wrestling base, quick striking, and his tendency to attack from angles in a fashion unlike any other fighter on the UFC roster.
Early life
Cruz was born in
San Diego,
and is of Mexican descent.
He lived with his single mother, grandmother, and brother in a trailer park in Tucson for most of his childhood.
He started wrestling in
seventh grade and competed all through high school out of Flowing Wells High School.
After an injury that came in his
Twelfth grade, he lost the opportunity of receiving a scholarship to wrestle at the University of Northern Colorado.
Cruz worked as a customer service representative at Lowe's, and was studying to be a
firefighter at community college before becoming a full time fighter.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Cruz began his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in 2005, competing in the Rage in the Cage and Total Combat organizations. He amassed a record of 9–0 before joining World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).
World Extreme Cagefighting
His first fight in the WEC was at featherweight at in a title fight against
Urijah Faber in which he lost by guillotine choke in the first round.
The fight would become the beginning of a longstanding cantankerous rivalry between the two.
He would then make his debut for the WEC's 135 lb
bantamweight division on June 7, 2008, at WEC 34 defeating
Charlie Valencia by unanimous decision.
Cruz went on to take decision victories against Ian McCall on January 25, 2009, at WEC 38 and April 5, 2009, Ivan Lopez at WEC 40.
Cruz defeated Joseph Benavidez on August 9, 2009, at WEC 42 by unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors.
WEC Bantamweight Championship
Riding a four-fight win streak, Cruz was presented with a title shot against the reigning WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles. The bout took place at WEC 47 on March 6, 2010.
Cruz won the bout via TKO after Bowles was unable to continue after the second round after breaking his hand. Cruz became the new WEC Bantamweight Champion.
Cruz made his first title defense against Joseph Benavidez on August 18, 2010, at WEC 50.
Cruz faced Scott Jorgensen on December 14, 2010, at WEC 53 for both the WEC Bantamweight Championship and the newly created UFC Bantamweight Championship.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Bantamweight Championship
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
A rematch with Urijah Faber took place on July 2, 2011, at UFC 132 being the first defense of the new UFC Bantamweight title.
Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision on October 1, 2011, at UFC on Versus 6, his second UFC title defense. Cruz broke his right hand in the first round.
String of injuries
In December 2011, Cruz was selected to coach
against opposing coach
Urijah Faber.
The rubber match between Cruz and Faber was expected to take place on July 7, 2012, at UFC 148.
However, on May 7, 2012, Cruz was forced to pull out of the bout citing a torn ACL.
On December 3, 2012, it was revealed that Cruz underwent another ACL surgery after his body rejected one from a cadaver, with an expected recovery time of six to nine months.
Cruz was scheduled to make his return on February 1, 2014, at UFC 169 in a unification bout with interim UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barão.
After nearly three years away from the sport due to injuries, Cruz returned to the octagon on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178 where he faced Takeya Mizugaki.
Subsequently, on December 22, 2014, Cruz indicated that he had torn the ACL in his other knee, which sidelined him through 2015.
Regaining the championship
After over four years since his last title fight, Cruz faced T.J. Dillashaw on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. He regained the title with a split-decision victory.
Both participants were awarded
Fight of the Night honors.
Many have cited the return and victory as one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history.
To complete their trilogy, Cruz defended his title against Urijah Faber on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Injuries and losing the title
Cruz faced
Cody Garbrandt on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. After getting knocked down multiple times during the bout, Cruz lost the bout by unanimous decision.
This was the first loss for Cruz in nearly 10 years.
Months later, on The Joe Rogan Experience, Cruz revealed that he was plagued by
plantar fascia tendinitis throughout training camp that made it difficult for him to walk at times.
Cruz was expected to face Jimmie Rivera on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219, however, on November 8, it was reported Cruz suffered a broken arm and he was forced to pull from the card.
Cruz was expected to face John Lineker on January 26, 2019 at UFC 233.
After more than a 3 year-layoff, Cruz replaced José Aldo and faced Henry Cejudo for the UFC Bantamweight Championship on May 9, 2020 at UFC 249.
Cruz faced Casey Kenney on March 6, 2021 at UFC 259.
Cruz faced Pedro Munhoz on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269.
Cruz faced Marlon Vera on August 13, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 41.
Retirement
After over a two year absence, Cruz was scheduled to face Rob Font on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252.
Fighting style
Considered to be one of the best MMA fighters of his generation, Cruz combines constant lateral motion with precise, in-and-out striking.
[ In addition to his striking, Cruz has extensive training in amateur wrestling.][
]
Championships and accomplishments
-
Ultimate Fighting Championship
-
UFC Bantamweight Championship (Two times; inaugural)
-
Three successful title defenses (two during first reign, one during second reign)
-
Tied (Aljamain Sterling & T.J. Dillashaw) for most title defenses in UFC Bantamweight division history (3)
-
Tied (Aljamain Sterling & Renan Barao) for second most title fight wins in UFC Bantamweight division history (4)
-
Tied (T.J. Dillashaw & Merab Dvalishvili) for second most consecutive title defenses in UFC Bantamweight division history (2)
-
Fight of the Night (Four times) vs. Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt and Pedro Munhoz.
-
Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Takeya Mizugaki
-
Longest single title reign in UFC Bantamweight division history by number of days (1,117)
-
Longest combined title reign in UFC Bantamweight division history by number of days (1,465)
-
Most title wins in UFC/WEC Bantamweight division history (7)
-
Tied (Aljamain Sterling) for most wins in UFC/WEC Bantamweight division history (14)
-
Most takedowns landed in UFC/WEC Bantamweight division history (55)
-
UFC.com Awards
-
2011: Import of the Year,
-
2016: Ranked #4 Fighter of the Year
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World Extreme Cagefighting
-
WEC Bantamweight Championship (One time, final)
-
Two successful title defenses
-
Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Joseph Benavidez
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Total Combat
-
Total Combat Lightweight Championship
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Total Combat Featherweight Championship
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USA Today
-
Fight Matrix
-
2016 Comeback Fighter of the Year
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World MMA Awards
-
2014 Comeback Fighter of the Year
-
2015 Analyst of the Year
-
2016 Analyst of the Year
-
2017 Analyst of the Year
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Loss
|align=center|24–4
|Marlon Vera
|KO (head kick)
|
|
|align=center|4
|align=center|2:17
|San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|24–3
|Pedro Munhoz
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 269
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|23–3
|Casey Kenney
|Decision (split)
|UFC 259
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|22–3
|Henry Cejudo
|TKO (knee and punches)
|UFC 249
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:58
|Jacksonville, Florida, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|22–2
|Cody Garbrandt
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 207
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|22–1
|Urijah Faber
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 199
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Inglewood, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|21–1
|T.J. Dillashaw
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Boston, Massachusetts, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 20–1
| Takeya Mizugaki
| KO (punches)
| UFC 178
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:01
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 19–1
| Demetrious Johnson
| Decision (unanimous)
|
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Washington D.C., United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 18–1
| Urijah Faber
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 132
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 17–1
| Scott Jorgensen
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 53
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Glendale, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 16–1
| Joseph Benavidez
| Decision (split)
| WEC 50
|
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 15–1
| Brian Bowles
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| WEC 47
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 5:00
| Columbus, Ohio, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 14–1
| Joseph Benavidez
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 42
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 13–1
| Iván López
| Technical Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 40
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:24
| Chicago, Illinois, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 12–1
| Ian McCall
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 38
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 11–1
| Charlie Valencia
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 34
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Sacramento, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 10–1
| Kenneth Aimes
| KO (punches)
| Total Combat 27
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A
| Yuma, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 9–1
| Urijah Faber
| Submission (guillotine choke)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:38
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 9–0
| Shad Smith
| Decision (unanimous)
| Total Combat 18
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–0
| Juan Miranda
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Total Combat 16
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:00
| San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–0
| Dave Hisquierdo
| Decision (split)
| Total Combat 15
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–0
| Michael Barney
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 79
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:45
| Tucson, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–0
| Nick Hedrick
| Decision (unanimous)
| Rage in the Cage 75
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 2:00
| Glendale, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Josh Donahue
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 74
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:09
| Casa Grande, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–0
| Tom Schwager
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 73
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:56
| Glendale, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–0
| Rosco McClellan
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 70
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:26
| Glendale, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Eddie Castro
| Decision (split)
| Rage in the Cage 67
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:00
| Phoenix, Arizona, United States
|
Pay-per-view bouts
| +
!No.
!Event
!Fight
!Date
!Venue
!City
!PPV Buys |
| 1. | UFC 132 | Cruz vs. Faber 2 | July 2, 2011 | MGM Grand Garden Arena | Las Vegas | 350,000 |
See also
-
List of male mixed martial artists
-
List of UFC champions
-
List of UFC records
-
List of UFC bonus award recipients
-
List of UFC events
External links
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