Dominick Cruz fights at the top of the undercard of Saturday’s UFC 259, and is currently ranked #11 in the division. Opponent Casey Kenney is currently unranked, and with a loss, it’s possible Cruz falls out of the top 15 entirely. However, at Wednesday’s media day, Cruz detailed why he is not impressed with rankings.
“Anybody’s pretty close to winning that belt in the top-15 in my opinion, said Cruz. We really are. I’ve fought guys that when I was at the top with the belt, I fought guys that were #15 just one year before and they won three fights in a row, and sometimes you can win one or two fights depending on if it’s in a spectacular fashion and get right up to title contention.
So when you look at rankings, if I’m being perfectly honest rankings have to do with the money you’re paid more than where you’re actually legitimized. So what is a ranking to a fighter? … It’s about pay. If [Kenney] were getting paid more, he’d be ranked. Facts. That’s a fact.
To me, Casey Kenney is one of the best in the world. He’s well-rounded, he’s a black belt in judo, he comes from a grappling background. He trains with John Crouch out in Arizona. He started with his grappling, then added the judo and stuck with it. As he’s improved, he’s on a three-fight win streak and his striking has been improving too. He just beat Nathaniel Wood, who has a good striking base first, so coming from a grappling background and beating a striker he’s improving on that aspect as well.
I’ve lost two title fights in a row right now. I wasn’t really looking at any specific opponent for any specific thing because when you’re losing it’s kind of like, just get in there, right? Why go too far ahead? So Sean Shelby gave me a guy on a winning streak and am I going to argue with the matchmaker after my last—I got an opportunity in that title fight and it did not get executed the way I wanted. I felt very gifted and honored to get that opportunity to fight for the title. So after that gift, just show up, do your job, take the fight that’s given to you, shut up, and go.
Cruz’s footwork and approach have advanced the state of the game, but Kenney argues his skills have not advanced over the years
That would be his interpretation and he’s allowed to have it, said Cruz.
UG, who wins the fight at the top of the undercard?
h/t Alexander K. Lee for MMA Fighting
