The UFC Bantamweight Super Bowl – Dominick Cruz versus Renan Barao
By Christopher Jester
Dominick Cruz is set return for the UFC’s annual Super Bowl event. Yes, you read that right – the UFC Bantamweight Champion is finally returning to the Octagon. The writing was on the wall, if he had not been scheduled a fight before the end of the first quarter of 2014, he would be stripped of his belt. He scheduled a fight just in time in a pivotal match-up against the interim UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao. The fight has been a long time in the making. With Barao devastating all opposition to come his way in the meantime, it has created one of the most anticipated UFC title fights in a long time.
Although just the co-main event of that UFC fight card, Dominick Cruz versus Renan Barao in a title unification bout may be one of the more significant fights in any UFC division. Cruz has been on the sidelines mending injury after injury for a long time. Having not fought since his UFC bantamweight title defense against Demetrious Johnson back in 2011, this fight will mark the first time that Cruz has entered the Octagon in more than two years.
In the interim, Renan Barao has taken on and defeated a who’s who of the 135lb division. Cruz was originally supposed to face Urijah Faber in a rematch of their UFC 132 fight, this time at UFC 149, but Cruz’s injury placed Barao in an interim bout opposite Faber. His reign as interim champion began that night when he decisively defeated Faber via decision. Barao followed that up with a submission win over Michael McDonald and then an impressive spinning back kick KO over Eddie Wineland, proving Barao is one of the most dangerous fighters on the UFC’s roster. This match between Cruz and Barao is beyond overdue.
No interim champion has defended their belt two times. That is enough to sell Barao as a legitimate threat to dethroning the official bantamweight champion. As the old Ric Flair saying goes, “You got to beat the man, to be the man,” and that is exactly what Barao is aiming to do.
When interviewed by MMAFighting.com, Barao said that he was happy to hear of Cruz’s return. He further stated, “I feel I’m the champion… He’s also the champion, but I am too. Let’s see who leaves the Octagon as the champion.” And he couldn’t be more right as it will put the two best bantamweights in the Octagon with each other to decide who is the best 135lber in the world.
The major concern for Dominick Cruz is how his long layoff will affect his ability to fight a championship bout. Five five-minute rounds is no easy feat, particularly for a man who relies heavily on footwork and movement. Being out the cage for that long is one thing. Fighting against someone who has the creative striking caliber of Barao is another. It will be a true test of Cruz’s mettle. A win in this bout will make him one of the best champions the UFC has to offer.
And perhaps, that is why this bout is so momentous. Cruz is the UFC Champion for a reason. Renan Barao is on a winning streak unlike any other in mixed martial arts – an astonishing 32-fight streak with no losses (31-0-1 NC). It begs for you to ask, is Cruz the man to end Barao’s streak? Can Barao continue his impressive streak over a formerly dominant UFC Bantamweight Champion in Dominick Cruz?
The wait was a long time coming, but in February the fans will finally get to see why the UFC waited so long for Cruz to recuperate. Renan Barao is on such an impressive winning streak, and his victories are always highlight reel material. This is the sort of bout that will shake the foundation of the bantamweight division, and after two years it’s champion will finally return to defend his belt.
*Photos courtesy of UFC.com
Follow Christopher “sLapDatSuCKa” Jester on Twitter @sLapDatSuCka
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