Indestructibl3

This fight probably intrigues me the most out of all upcoming fights on any card ... I see Cruz picking up the win via UD. Better striking, better movement and will be able to avoid the TD. Looking forward to see Cruz dominate Faber.

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EagleClaw29

Well...it seems the general consensus is Cruz will win this fight...& several posters don't think it will even be close.

After reading the replies I went to YouTube to see if they had the 1st fight...and they do.

http://www.mmatko.com/urijah-faber-v...-26-las-vegas/

There is a picture of Fabers face that is pretty funny on the web page where they show the 1st fight....on the link above.

So the 1st one was a little over 4 years ago. I thought it possibly sort of karmaesque (not sure that's a word...but I know u guys know what I mean) that Faber's record going into the 1st Cruz fight was 17-1, just what Cruz's is now.

Cruz was 9-0 going into that fight....but I think it was his first WEC fight. I've always wondered how they come up with the records for the guys when they first fight in the
WEC (before being recently incorporated into the UFC) or UFC.

I guess there must be some way they decide if the guy's fights were sanctioned by some ruling body & are legit I guess.

Anyway....the fight didn't last very long as Faber got Cruz down & slapped on a guillotine choke that he had to work on some to get it right....but once he did.....it was a little past one minute of the opening round & Cruz tapped. Faber also clocked him with a pretty good uppercut.

I think Faber is about 5-6 years older than Cruz. But the Cruz I saw in that fight looked nothing like the last fights I saw him in with Benavidez & Jorgenson. Which is why I was having a tough time picking this one.

You would have to say that Faber won the first fight easily.

Yea, Cruz looks to me in the recent fights I saw him in....a much, much better fighter than when he fought Faber the 1st time.

I was very impressed with Cruz's movement (he has developed a movement style that is sort of unique I think) & how he just looks like he has developed into a very smart fighter too.

I recently heard a pretty big name MMA fighter (although I can't remember exactly who) who said he was trying to incorporate some of Cruz's movement into his game because he was obviously impressed by it.

I've seen Cruz interviewed & he seems to be a totally dedicated MMA guy who devotes his life to the game....which I think most guys have to these days if they want to be the champion of a weight class.

I also agree that he hasn't gotten the media attention he deserves as he is an A-list top notch fighter.

But I also think that some folks might be selling Faber short these days because of the Aldo fight & the Brown fights.

As I mentioned before....Faber made one mistake in the 1st Brown fight...trying to whip that elbow at Brown when he couldn't see him & he ended up just walking into Brown's wheelhouse....& when you're moving towards someone & they have loaded up and nail you clean...you're going down.

And if I remember correctly...Faber was winning that fight until he tried that move that was just too dicey when you can't see your opponent. And of course Fabers hands were so damaged in the 2nd fight early on...that he could only throw elbows.

If they fought a 3rd time....I'd pick Faber to win that fight.

Guess I better wrap this up because I know that some folks don't like long posts. I'm still on the fence about this one. I don't think Cruz is going to win this in a cakewalk.

I just hope we get to see a good fight...I think both these guys deserve a lot of respect...& I know Faber has sort of been the poster boy & has gotten a lot more attention than Cruz...& I think that probably annoys some people.

But...you know...the folks behind the curtains must think he is really good for promoting the sport (which gives it more attention & leads to more money being made for the folks in this business) & bringing in the cash. Which seems to be the bottom line for almost anything these days that you want to investigate....follow the money.

Intermission

That fight was years ago, since then Faber has looked worse and Cruz has EXTREMELY grown as a fighter, he wasn't training at Alliance at the time either.

P.S It was Matt Mitrione that said that after his Fight for the troops win.

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TraMaI

A) Meathead is awesome. If he can become a HW Dominic Cruz I'll shit myself.

B) Totally agree. Cruz has shown improvement unlike any other fighter I've ever seen. I mean he was good before but now... he's just on another level. One more dominant win (especially crushing someone with a name like Faber's) and he's definitely going to be in p4p talks from everywhere.

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Calibretto9

I really, really like Faber but I think Cruz takes this. As has been said Urijah hasn't evolved much since his last few losses. He's an excellent fighter but I think Cruz will be able to pick him apart on the feet en route to a UD.

EagleClaw29

Yep - it was Mitrione that said it....thanks for reminding me.

In regards to the fight....there are so many of you that say that Cruz wins this easy by decision....& several saying that it may be close...but Cruz WILL get the W!

I don't think Faber is a dummy....& has been training for Cruz's fighting style. No way he can train with a guy that can replicate Cruz to a tee. But however he's training....he has got to be watching tapes of Cruz's recent fights....& of course his buddy Benividez fought Cruz & Faber was watching that fight up close & personal.

That being said....people who are picking Cruz to win....or win in a cakewalk....probably have already taken that into consideration.

OK - With what everyone has had to say: now, if somebody put a gun to my head & said pick one (& if you're right, there will be no consequences....& if you're wrong....you will be immediately be executed by firing squad).....I just have the feeling (you know....everybody gets em from time to time) that Faber is going to win this fight somehow.

But I wouldn't be very confident about it...& I'd probably end up in a coffin via the same way that Gary Gilmore did.