Okay everyone, this is my first discussion thread. And you really don't need to be an MMA die hard to have an oppinion on this matter so I encourage even those who are not UFC fans to participate in this discussion.
Dominick Cruz has been the UFC Bantamweight champion upon arriving in the company, previously defeating Brian Bowles for the WEC Bantamweight Championship and defending it against Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen (both by decision) before the promotion folded in December 2010.
When he arrived in the UFC, Cruz was immediately matched up against the man to give him his first and only professional loss to date - Urijah Faber. And in a back and forth fight where Cruz hit a series of leg kicks and Faber dropped Cruz several times, he succesfully defended his title with a razor thin decision. In his next octagon appearance.. Cruz dominated Demetrious Johnson with a shut out unanimous decision.
Cruz than served opposite Urijah Faber as a coach on the FX debut of The Ultimate Fighter, and suffered a career threatening ACL tear in the process. Faber was than matched up with Renan Barao who claimed the interim title for himself by defeating Faber with a unanimous decision and when all seemed to set a title merging fight up between Barao and the champion, Cruz suffered the same injury tearing his ACL again.
Barao is now being matched up for an upcoming fight with Eddie Wineland which happens to take place in Winnipeg and I just want to hear what other people have to say on this whole ordeal.
My personal oppinion is that he should be stripped of the title, Barao is currently walking through the division right now and with him riding the longest win streak in all of MMA it only seems fitting to let him take the full formality as champion while Cruz can make other interesting matchups (like the third Urijah Faber fight). But one thing you have to keep in mind is that Cruz has been on top of the division and has defended his title more than anybody has in WEC/UFC Bantamweight history. Currently he is the best 135 pound fighter in the world.
Thoughts people?
Dominick Cruz has been the UFC Bantamweight champion upon arriving in the company, previously defeating Brian Bowles for the WEC Bantamweight Championship and defending it against Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen (both by decision) before the promotion folded in December 2010.
When he arrived in the UFC, Cruz was immediately matched up against the man to give him his first and only professional loss to date - Urijah Faber. And in a back and forth fight where Cruz hit a series of leg kicks and Faber dropped Cruz several times, he succesfully defended his title with a razor thin decision. In his next octagon appearance.. Cruz dominated Demetrious Johnson with a shut out unanimous decision.
Cruz than served opposite Urijah Faber as a coach on the FX debut of The Ultimate Fighter, and suffered a career threatening ACL tear in the process. Faber was than matched up with Renan Barao who claimed the interim title for himself by defeating Faber with a unanimous decision and when all seemed to set a title merging fight up between Barao and the champion, Cruz suffered the same injury tearing his ACL again.
Barao is now being matched up for an upcoming fight with Eddie Wineland which happens to take place in Winnipeg and I just want to hear what other people have to say on this whole ordeal.
My personal oppinion is that he should be stripped of the title, Barao is currently walking through the division right now and with him riding the longest win streak in all of MMA it only seems fitting to let him take the full formality as champion while Cruz can make other interesting matchups (like the third Urijah Faber fight). But one thing you have to keep in mind is that Cruz has been on top of the division and has defended his title more than anybody has in WEC/UFC Bantamweight history. Currently he is the best 135 pound fighter in the world.
Thoughts people?
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