Dominick Cruz

American two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion celebrated for his elusive, unorthodox footwork, who overcame multiple serious injuries to reclaim his title after a four-year layoff.

Dominick Cruz won the WEC Bantamweight Championship before that title carried over to become the first UFC Bantamweight Championship in 2010, when he defeated Scott Jorgensen. He defended it successfully against Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson, establishing himself as one of the most technically gifted fighters in the division through his uniquely elusive, movement-based style. Cruz's career was repeatedly derailed by serious injuries: he tore his left ACL while training in 2012, then suffered a torn quadriceps and further ACL damage, forcing him to vacate his title in January 2014 without ever losing it in competition. He returned in September 2014 with a 61-second knockout of Takeya Mizugaki, only to tear his other ACL two months later. In January 2016, after just one fight in over three years, Cruz produced one of the sport's great comeback stories, reclaiming the UFC Bantamweight Championship via split decision over TJ Dillashaw in a closely contested five-round classic in Boston. He successfully defended the title against Urijah Faber before losing it to Cody Garbrandt in December 2016. Injuries continued to limit Cruz's career in subsequent years, though he remained a respected figure in the sport, later working as a prominent UFC broadcaster and analyst alongside his continued occasional competition.

Uniquely elusive, movement-based footwork that made him extremely difficult to hit

Regarded by many as one of the two greatest bantamweights in UFC history, alongside TJ Dillashaw