The Ultimate Fight Night 81 main event featured a bantamweight title fight between champion TJ Dillashaw and Domnick Cruz, a former champion who never lost his title in the Octagon.
Official Result: Dominick Cruz defeated TJ Dillashaw by Split Decision (48-47, 46-49, 49-46)
TJ Dillashaw was a member of the Ultimate Fighter Season 14, making it to the finals, but lost the finale to John Dodson by first round TKO. He would then however win five of his next fights and earned a title fight against Renan Barao at UFC 173. A huge underdog coming into the fight, Dillashaw shocked the MMA world by defeating Barao by fifth round TKO to earn the UFC bantamweight title.
Dominick Cruz has only been defeated once in twenty one professional fights. He entered the WEC in 2008 and won his first four fights before defeating Brian Bowles to claim the WEC bantamweight title fight. He would successfully defend that title twice before the UFC folded the WEC into the UFC. Cruz would start his UFC career as it’s bantamweight champion and defended it twice before having to relinquish it after an extended injury layoff.
About TJ Dillshaw
Few UFC championship fights have been as stirring – or as surprising – as TJ Dillshaw’s victory over Renan Barao for the bantamweight title in May 2014.
Dillashaw was a considerable underdog with a 10-2 professional record when he faced Barao, arguably the greatest bantamweight in MMA history, at UFC 173 in Las Vegas. Barao brought in a 34-1 record, was on a 22-fight win streak and hadn’t lost in nine years.
But Dillashaw pulled off a stunning upset, using quick hands and exceptional footwork to dominate Barao from the start before finishing him with a fifth-round TKO.
All you have to do is believe, baby! Dillashaw said in the Octagon. Believe you’re the best in the world and you’ll get here!
Dillashaw’s rise through the ranks wasn’t exactly meteoric, but he progressed quickly after turning pro in 2010.
source: ufc.com
About Dominick Cruz
• First ever UFC bantamweight champion
• Unbeaten at 135 pounds (10-0)
• 7-1 in WEC career
• Owner of a distinct standup style that has proven almost impossible to decipher
• Lone pro loss came in WEC featherweight title bout against Urijah Faber
• Pro since 2005
• Six wins by KO, one by submission
• Was sidelined due to injury since October of 2011
• Was stripped of title in 2014 due to injury; never lost title in the Octagon
source: ufc.com
