DOMINICK CRUZ

ATTRIBUTES

OFFENSIVE SKILLS

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES

Lunging Left/Right Hook

Level 2—Both Standing, Striking Range

These heavy technique strikes can be thrown from afar, making them ideal ways for Cruz to quickly close the distance on his opponent.

Superman Jab

Level 2—Both Standing, Striking Range

This unassuming jab is quick to find its mark and packs plenty of sting. Make liberal use of this excellent strike to interrupt the opponent’s combos and counter them sharply from the outside.

Left/Right Hook

Level 2—Open Guard, Bottom

Cruz can posture up into sub position in Open Guard, Half Guard, or Mount to rain down these heavy hooks. Land a few of these technique strikes each time you score a takedown.

STRENGTHS

• Conditioning
• Constant movement
• Unorthodox striking
  

The UFC’s current bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz is an incredibly skilled boxer and takedown artist with superior speed, footwork, and striking power. Dominick’s defensive wrestling is also incredibly good, with excellent takedown and submission defense.

This allows Cruz to open up with confidence on the feet, rocking the opponent with unorthodox strikes that come from odd angles at incredible speed. Outmaneuver the opponent and land devastating strike combos.

Stuff their takedowns and punish them with Cruz’s fast hands, using his superior footwork to quickly dart in and out of striking range.

Cruz has excellent takedowns himself—shoot in and bring the opponent to the mat whenever you want to score some bonus points with the judges.

Don’t bother working for submissions, though—Cruz is at his best when pounding away with his fists.

WEAKNESSES

• Kicks
• Ground striking
• Submissions
  

It’s hard to find significant weaknesses in the UFC bantamweight champion’s game, because there simply aren’t many.

Cruz is absolutely dominant on the feet, using dizzying movement and striking speed to annihilate his adversaries with pinpoint combinations and unorthodox technique strikes that seemingly come from out of nowhere.

Because Cruz is so dangerous in the stand-up, it’s wise to try grappling and bringing him to the mat. Be very conservative with your striking on the feet, using quick strikes to probe the champ for openings.

Cruz has excellent takedown defense, so strive to time it right and achieve a short takedown by shooting under one of his powerful strikes.

Bring Cruz to the ground and work at passing his guard, then make the champ suffer by battering him with plenty of power strikes from the top.