Cruz: I’m still the best 135er in the world
Dominick Cruz: “I’m gunning for the title. If you’re in this sport and you’re not gunning for the title, you’re in the wrong sport.”
When Dominick Cruz steps into the Octagon Saturday at UFC 178, it will be his first fight in almost three full years. It will be his first non-title fight in almost five full years. After suffering from a string of injuries, the division had to move on without him, but he believes that he is still the best and this fight is just the next step to being known as the best bantamweight in in the world:
I’m still the best bantamweight in the world in my mind, yes,” Cruz said. “That’s still something I need to go in there and fight. It’s been a long time since I fought. If I had any doubt that I was the best in the world then I shouldn’t be competing. If you don’t think you’re going to be the best, what’s the point?
“I choose to be the best bantamweight on the planet and I’m going to make it happen.”
Cruz is returning to face a top five opponent in Mizugaki, but chances are the name on everyone’s mind when talking to the former champion will be current bantamweight king T.J. Dillashaw.
Cruz will be happy to address him when the time is right.
“I’m gunning for the title. If you’re in this sport and you’re not gunning for the title, you’re in the wrong sport,” Cruz said when Dillashaw’s name came up. “But I’m just taking one step in front of the other and I’m not skipping any steps. When you start to skip steps you start looking past people.
“Takeya Mizugaki is the next step for me.”
