“Dominator” is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
During the UFC 324 broadcast last night (Sat., Jan. 24, 2025), the promotion announced that former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight
champion Dominick Cruz will be going into the Hall of Fame (HOF) later this year during International Fight Week.
Check out the package that the promotion put together.
Cruz (24-4) is largely considered the greatest Bantamweight of all time — and that’s even with him being extremely cursed with injuries that derailed a lot of his career and most of his prime.
“Dominator” began his MMA career in 2005, fighting for Rage in the Cage in Arizona. After going undefeated (9-0), he signed with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and immediately challenged for the promotion’s Featherweight championship.
Cruz lost his WEC debut, getting submitted by his future long-time rival, Urijah Faber, but he dropped down to Bantamweight and eventually claimed WEC’s Bantamweight belt.
At WEC 53 — after defending WEC’s Bantamweight title — he hooked ‘em up with Scott Jorgensen for UFC’s inaugural Bantamweight title, winning via unanimous decision.
“The Dominator” then defended the belt twice, including a rematch with Faber (he won); however, a severe groin injury caused him to vacate the title in 2014.
Two years later (five years since he last fought in a title fight), Cruz reclaimed UFC’s Bantamweight title, defeating T.J. Dillashaw via a split decision. He then wrapped up his trilogy with Faber, defeating “California Kid” for a second time.
Cruz eventually dropped the 135-pound belt to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 via unanimous decision, thanks to “No Love” having the performance of a lifetime.
After losing the belt for what ended up being the last time, Cruz went on to have a 2-3 record in his last five fights in the promotion, getting knocked out for the first time by Henry Cejudo at UFC 249. Then again, against Marlon Vera in what turned out to be his final UFC fight (watch highlights).
He tried to fight one final time last year at UFC Seattle against Rob Font, but another shoulder injury forced him to pull out and eventually retire.
Cruz’s legacy as the first Bantamweight champion and his unique fight style are cemented forever, and he absolutely deserves his spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Here are some of his stats per a UFC press release.
- Longest title reign in UFC bantamweight history – 1,117 days
- Most title fight wins in UFC / WEC bantamweight history – 7
- Tied for most wins in UFC / WEC bantamweight history – 14
- Second-longest fight winning streak in UFC / WEC bantamweight history – 12
- Second-most takedowns landed in UFC / WEC bantamweight history – 55
- Fourth-most strikes landed in UFC / WEC bantamweight history – 1,590
Expect more Hall of Fame announcements in the coming months.
For complete UFC 324 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
