White: Dominick Cruz gets title shot vs. Dillashaw
Dana White: “Nobody does that to Takeya Mizugaki, nobody. Dominick Cruz didn’t lose his belt fighting. He is the unluckiest man on earth. So yeah, he’s the guy.”
Three years ago Dominick Cruz was universally acknowledged as the best bantamweight in the world. Then he had knee surgery and another knee surgery, and as the months turned into years, eventually three years less three days, where Cruz stood became unknown.
Saturday night, Cruz fought the #6 ranked Takeya Mizugaki, ragdolling him to the ground, and knocking him out in one minute and one second. Cruz looked looked like the best fighter in the division, and will get a chance to find out.
At the UFC 178 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White said that Cruz is the division’s #1 contender.
Nobody does that to Mizugaki, nobody, said White as Transcribed by CJ Tuttle for Sherdog. He didn’t lose his belt fighting. He is the unluckiest man on earth. So yeah, he’s the guy.
Cruz too spoke post fight, and acknowledged he did not know what was going to happen.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I didn’t know how I was going to feel after three years.
I didn’t know what the lights were going to do.
I didn’t know what being there was going to do.”
Now he knows.
“I believe I’m the best in the world, so I just went out there and did my job,” said Cruz. “I’m far from the old Dominick. I’m ready to be back and have that belt.
Dillashaw showed remarkable footwork in taking the title from Barao. Cruz is the division daddy of amazing footwork. It’s going to be dancing with the stars.
