Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will Dominick Cruz take back the UFC Bantamweight Title from T.J. Dillashaw?
Oct 2, 2014 - 12:55:33 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will Dominick Cruz take back the UFC Bantamweight Title from T.J. Dillashaw?

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Given how he looked against Takeya Mizugaki, do you believe Dominick Cruz will retake the UFC Bantamweight Title when he fights T.J. Dillashaw? Or do you think it's too early to predict? Why?


CASH NORMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Dominick Cruz beat Takeya Mizugaki in a little over a minute, but it's much too early to tell what will happen in their bout. Cruz needed to come out and make a statement on why he deserved the next title shot, and he was able to do that. We still don't know how well his knee is. If I were T.J. Dillashaw, I would come out and test his knee and test his mobility. Yes, his mobility looked great in just over a minute, but how will he look after five minutes and ten minutes as the fight continues to progress? Everything about Cruz is awkward, his movement is awkward, his shorts look awkward, his trash talk is awkaward, even he looks awkward.

Do I think he will regain the championship? I most certainly hope not. I've had enough with quiet and humble champions, I most certainly don't want an awkward, quiet, humble champion.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think it's too early for me to accurately predict because I'm still caught up in the moment of Cruz's amazing return. I feel as though Cruz will win, but if I look at it objectively I think Dillashaw gives him a great fight. I'm leaning towards picking Cruz, but only slightly. I think it's possible that Dillashaw picks up the win, but I think it's a very close fight that goes to decision.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I don't want to say yes or no as to whether or not he'll surely beat Dillashaw in their forthcoming bout, but I will say without a doubt that Dillashaw is in some seriously deep trouble if Cruz shows up in the form he did against Mizugaki. Holy crap the man has only gotten better during his lengthy layoff. I was beyond impressed by his performance, and borderline blown away by the lack of a properly timed stoppage before Mizugaki took like 40 unnecessary strikes to the head. Cruz is a killer, Dillashaw should be terrified.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

As good as Dominick Cruz was in the minute it took to dismantle Mizugaki. I'm not sure it's possible to judge him in such a short time, but for what we saw, and how he looked inside the first 30 seconds, I'd say he will more than a handful for T.J. Dillashaw, but we won't know until fight night.

If you'd have asked me this five months ago before Dillashaw fought Renan Barao for the first time, I'd have said Cruz win was a formality. But, having seen him totally dominate Renan Barao over five rounds, and the way he did it, I'm not convinced Cruz will have everything his own way.

If I was pushed to give an answer, I'd slightly favour Cruz to defeat T.J. Dillashaw, and recapture the UFC Bantamweight Title.