One of the most iconic rivalries in MMA has been the bantamweight rivalry between the 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz and ‘The California Kid’ Urijah Faber.
Faber headed into the final fight of his career against Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett on 17th December 2016, and although they haven’t seen eye to eye throughout their careers, Cruz took the opportunity to pay his respects to his retiring rival:
“To be perfectly honest, the guy started this sport in the lighter weight class.
When I first started this thing, there was only 155-pounders and up. And because he had a good following in Sacramento, that whole town got behind him, he was able to get people to show up to the shows and be able to make a run for the lighter weight classes.
Without him, without a star, an early star in the early days in this sport, the lighter weight classes might not have been made. That’s the truth.”
He went on to further talk about him and Faber sharing the spotlight:
“I was there right next to him, right with him. The difference is, he was bashing me down while he was the star, so I didn’t get the limelight. And that’s okay. That made me who I am today.
I’m appreciative for Urijah Faber. I’m appreciative for the rivalry.
I’m appreciative for the fights that I have with that man. I’m going to look back in time and be glad that we fought like we did and said the things that we did about each other, and I’m happy for his future.
And that whole thing with me and him is completely buried. Like, I couldn’t be happier that chapter of my life is done, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
‘The Dominator’ interestingly enough will be defending his title next against Faber’s protege, Cody ‘No Love’ Garbrandt. Garbrandt has left a trail of unconscious bodies in his path on the UFC’s bantamweight division by utilising his power.
Also read: UFC News: Its Official! Cruz vs Garbrandt at UFC 207! Challenger has some words for the champ!
Faber believes that the young Garbrandt has what it takes to get the job done against the 135-pound champ, and it isn’t too far of a stretch considering ‘No Love’ has displayed impressive power in his fights in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
Cruz and Garbrandt will meet in the co-main event of UFC 207 live on pay-per-view (PPV) for the bantamweight title, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30th, 2016.
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