Dominick Cruz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dominick Cruz
Cruz in 2017
Born	Dominick Rogelio Cruz (1985-03-09) March 9, 1985 (age 40) San Diego, California, U.S.
Nickname(s)	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)
Stance	Orthodox
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

Dominick Rogelio Cruz (born March 9, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is also a sports analyst and commentator. He competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Cruz has been the UFC Bantamweight Champion two times. He was also the last WEC Bantamweight Champion before that league joined the UFC.

Cruz is known for his unique fighting style. He moves in ways that are different from other fighters. He uses strong wrestling, quick punches, and attacks from many angles. He won the WEC bantamweight title in March 2010. Then, he won the first-ever UFC Bantamweight Championship in December of the same year. After defending his title twice in 2011, Cruz faced many injuries. He had to give up his title in 2014. On January 17, 2016, he won the bantamweight championship back. Many people called this victory the greatest comeback in MMA history.

Early Life

Dominick Cruz was born in San Diego, California. He has Mexican heritage. For most of his childhood, he lived with his mother, grandmother, and brother in Tucson, Arizona.

He started wrestling in seventh grade. He continued wrestling all through high school at Flowing Wells High School. After a serious injury in his senior year, he lost the chance to wrestle in college. Before becoming a full-time fighter, Cruz worked at a store and studied to be a firefighter.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Starting Out

Cruz began his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in 2005. He fought in smaller organizations like Rage in the Cage and Total Combat. He won his first 9 fights before joining World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).

Fighting in WEC

His first fight in the WEC was at featherweight. It was at WEC 26 against Urijah Faber for the title. Cruz lost this fight by a submission move in the first round. This fight started a big rivalry between the two fighters.

Dominick Cruz after keeping his WEC Bantamweight Championship at WEC 50 in August 2010

He then moved to the WEC's 135-pound bantamweight division. On June 7, 2008, at WEC 34, he beat Charlie Valencia by decision.

Cruz continued to win by decision. He beat Ian McCall at WEC 38 in January 2009. He also beat Ivan Lopez at WEC 40 in April 2009.

Cruz defeated Joseph Benavidez at WEC 42 in August 2009. He won by unanimous decision. Both fighters earned "Fight of the Night" for their exciting match.

Becoming WEC Bantamweight Champion

After winning four fights in a row, Cruz got a chance to fight for the WEC Bantamweight Championship. He faced the champion, Brian Bowles. The fight happened at WEC 47 on March 6, 2010. Cruz won the fight because Bowles broke his hand and could not continue. Cruz became the new WEC Bantamweight Champion.

Cruz defended his title for the first time against Joseph Benavidez. This rematch took place at WEC 50 on August 18, 2010. Cruz broke his left hand during the fight. Cruz had beaten Benavidez before at WEC 42. Cruz won again by a close decision and kept his title.

Cruz then faced Scott Jorgensen at WEC 53 on December 14, 2010. This fight was special. It was for both the WEC Bantamweight Championship and the new UFC Bantamweight Championship. This meant the winner would be the last WEC champion and the first UFC champion. Cruz defeated Jorgensen by unanimous decision. He kept his WEC title and became the first UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Fighting in UFC

Winning and Defending the UFC Title

On October 28, 2010, the World Extreme Cagefighting league joined with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). All WEC fighters, including Cruz, moved to the UFC.

Cruz had a rematch with Urijah Faber on July 2, 2011, at UFC 132. This was Cruz's first defense of his new UFC Bantamweight title. It was a very close fight. Faber landed some big punches, and Cruz landed many kicks and takedowns. Cruz won by unanimous decision. This win also helped him get revenge for his only loss at that time.

Cruz defended his UFC title a second time against Demetrious Johnson. He won by unanimous decision at UFC on Versus 6 on October 1, 2011. Cruz broke his right hand in the first round of this fight.

Dealing with Injuries

In December 2011, Cruz was chosen to coach The Ultimate Fighter: Live against Urijah Faber. Their third fight was planned for July 7, 2012, at UFC 148. However, Cruz had to pull out of the fight because of a serious knee injury.

In December 2012, it was announced that Cruz had another knee surgery. He was expected to be out for six to nine months.

Cruz was supposed to return on February 1, 2014, at UFC 169. He was set to fight Renan Barão, who was the temporary UFC Bantamweight Champion. But on January 6, 2014, UFC president Dana White announced that Dominick Cruz had a groin injury. Because of his many injuries, Cruz had to give up his UFC Bantamweight Championship. Barão then became the undisputed champion.

After almost three years away due to injuries, Cruz returned on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178. He faced Takeya Mizugaki. Cruz won the fight by knockout in the first round after a takedown. This win also earned Cruz his first "Performance of the Night" bonus. After the fight, Dana White said Cruz's next fight would be for the Bantamweight Championship against T.J. Dillashaw.

However, on December 22, 2014, Cruz announced he had torn the ACL in his other knee. This meant he would be out for all of 2015.

Winning the Championship Back

After more than four years since his last title fight, Cruz faced T.J. Dillashaw on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. He won the title back by a close decision. Both fighters received "Fight of the Night" honors. Many people said his return and victory was one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history.

To finish their three-fight series, Cruz defended his title against Urijah Faber on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Later Fights and Injuries

Cruz faced Cody Garbrandt on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. Cruz was knocked down several times during the fight. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. This was Cruz's first loss in almost 10 years. Months later, Cruz shared that he had a foot injury during his training camp. This injury made it hard for him to walk at times.

Cruz was supposed to fight Jimmie Rivera on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. But on November 8, it was reported that Cruz broke his arm. He had to pull out of the fight.

Cruz was expected to fight John Lineker on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233. On December 11, 2018, it was reported that Cruz injured his shoulder and had to withdraw. Cruz later said he expected to be out of fighting for another year.

After more than a three-year break, Cruz returned on May 9, 2020, at UFC 249. He replaced José Aldo and fought Henry Cejudo for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Cruz lost by TKO in the second round.

Cruz faced Casey Kenney on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259. He won the fight by a split decision.

Cruz fought Pedro Munhoz on December 11, 2021, at UFC 269. He won the fight by unanimous decision, even though he was knocked down twice in the first round. This fight also earned the "Fight of the Night" bonus award.

Cruz faced Marlon Vera on August 13, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 41. He lost the fight by knockout from a head kick in the fourth round.

After more than two years away, Cruz is scheduled to fight Rob Font on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252.

Fighting Style

Dominick Cruz is considered one of the best MMA fighters of his time. He moves constantly from side to side and strikes with great accuracy. He is known for his quick footwork, head movement, and using fake moves to trick opponents. He often attacks with combinations of punches, quick jabs, and single strikes from different angles. Besides his striking, Cruz has strong training in amateur wrestling.

Achievements

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Bantamweight Championship (Two times; he was the first champion)
    • He successfully defended his title three times (twice in his first time as champion, once in his second).
    • He is tied for the second most title fight wins in UFC Bantamweight history (4).
    • He is tied for the second most consecutive title defenses in UFC Bantamweight history (2).
  • Fight of the Night (Four times) against Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt and Pedro Munhoz.
  • Performance of the Night (One time) against Takeya Mizugaki.
  • He is tied for the most wins in UFC/WEC Bantamweight history (14).
  • He has the most takedowns landed in UFC/WEC Bantamweight history (55).
  • UFC.com Awards
    • 2011: Best New Fighter, Ranked #10 Fighter of the Year & Ranked #4 Fight of the Year against Urijah Faber 2.
    • 2016: Ranked #4 Fighter of the Year.
• World Extreme Cagefighting
  • WEC Bantamweight Championship (One time; he was the last champion)
    • He successfully defended his title two times.
  • Fight of the Night (One time) against Joseph Benavidez.
• Total Combat
  • Total Combat Lightweight Championship
  • Total Combat Featherweight Championship
• USA Today
  • 2010 Fighter of the Year
• 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

See also

In Spanish: Dominick Cruz para niños

• List of male mixed martial artists