Round 1 - Cruz walked away without touching gloves after the ref instructions. Nice right hand by Cruz right away and Faber misses a head kick. Faber ducks under and almost gets a big slam but Cruz stays standing. Faber takes his back standing but still can't get the takedown. Nice punch by Faber as they separate. Cruz landing some nice shots with his punching. Faber with a right hand. Faber still trying to get the timing while Cruz fires the jabs and leg kicks. Nice punch by Faber as he runs in to close distance briefly drops Cruz. Cruz back to his feet now. Nice punch by Cruz and back to the heavy leg kicks. Huge uppercut by Cruz now. Cruz using his unique angles and a nice uppercut. Nice right hand now by Cruz. Urijah bulls him into the cage. They exchange punches and Faber with a nice knee and elbow against the cage. The round ends and it was a very close round. I'll go 10-9 Cruz but could see it for Faber with ease.
Round 2 - Both men come out quickly. Cruz working his angles, Faber looking for the opening to shoot in. Nice left hand by Faber. He keeps throwing the head kicks but they're not getting through. Very nice left hook and straight right hand by Cruz. Nice right hand by Faber lands hard. Leg kick by Cruz lands solid. Nice jab by Cruz backs Faber up. Cruz back to the leg kick. Faber with a sharp right hand. Cruz with a nice takedown out of nowhere and Faber scrambles to his feet and lands a solid shot. Now Cruz with a pair of solid shots. I've got it 10-9 Cruz, but this is a great fight.
Round 3 - Faber continuing to try to find his timing. Cruz shoots in, can't get it but lands a nice couple strikes and gets back out. Great combination by Cruz and now a solid head kick. Now a right hand lands. Faber charges in with a punch but gets tagged. Faber shoots in, gets the takedown, almost gets the back, Cruz scrambles and ends up on top, Faber gets up and in the separation lands a nice right hand. This action is tremendous. Faber with a nice right hand but Cruz tags him with a jab. Cruz shoots in, Faber tries to take the neck but can't Cruz continues looking for the takedown and the round ends. 10-9 Cruz again but every round has been competitive.
Round 4 - Hard right hand by Cruz has Faber going backward. It's a lot more of Cruz's funky movement as the round wears down and Faber seems to be getting to Cruz less as the fight wears on. And as I type that Faber lands a nice combo and a right hand that briefly drops Cruz. Cruz comes back with a solid hook and knee to answer later in the round. 10-9 Faber.
Round 5 - Big knee by Cruz and Faber lures Cruz in acting hurt. Nice elbow and punch by Faber. Cruz back with a hard shot. Cruz shoots in for the takedown. Cruz gets it and takes Faber's back. Faber stands up. Faber almost catches Cruz's neck when he shoots again. Takedown by Cruz again and Faber scrambles to his feet. One minute left in the fight and Faber with a right hand. Another takedown by Cruz and Faber stands right back up again. Nice kick by Faber and the round ends with Cruz looking for the takedown. 10-9 Cruz gives him the 49-46 win on my card but a highly competitive fight that ranks among one of the best I've seen in the past few years.
Official Scorecards: 50-45, 49-46, 48-47 all for Dominick Cruz. Dominick Cruz retains his UFC bantamweight championship via unanimous decision.
UFC 132: Urijah Faber vs Dominick Cruz
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