Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz (born March 9, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist, sports analyst and commentator. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion. Cruz has also competed for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), and was the final WEC Bantamweight Champion. As of April 16, 2024, he is #11 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
| Dominick Cruz | |
|---|---|
Dominick Cruz during a USO show in 2017 | |
| Born | March 9, 1985 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Nickname | The Dominator |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division | Bantamweight (2008–present) Featherweight (2006–2008) Lightweight (2005–2006) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Fighting out of | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Team | Alliance MMA (2006–present) |
| Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 16 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Website | dominickcruzmma |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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. He won the WEC bantamweight title in March 2010, and won the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship the following December. After defending the belt twice in 2011, Cruz was sidelined by injuries in 2012 and subsequently stripped of the title in 2014. On January 17, 2016, he regained the bantamweight championship with a split-decision win over T.J. Dillashaw. Numerous media outlets called this victory the greatest comeback story in MMA history.