Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Should Dominick Cruz get an immediate title fight when he returns to the UFC later this year?
Mar 24, 2015 - 10:45:19 PM ROUNDTABLE: Should Dominick Cruz get an immediate title fight when he returns to the UFC later this year?

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Should Dominick Cruz get an immediate title fight when he returns later this year? Would you expect him to capture the belt from T.J. Dillashaw or Renan Barao?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Are you really asking me if the best bantamweight in the world, bar none, should get a title shot for a belt he never lost? Really? Is that what we're doing today? Look. If Dominick Cruz returns in December, that will be a 15 month absence for him. Since beating Demetrious Johnson - in, what was it, 1999? - He's fought all of a minute. I get that. I also get that he earned his shot at the title that was (admittedly rightfully) stripped from him. Him blowing out his knee yet again should have no bearing on him getting a title shot upon his return. Before he returned previously to fight Takeya Mizugaki, I firmly believed he should take a non-title fight, if just to prove to himself that he could return from such an extended absence and perform at a high-level. Cruz proved himself worthy by thrashing Mizugaki, and should not be forced to go through another prove-it fight. When he returns, he gets a title-fight.


DAYNE FOX, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I am so freakin' mixed on this one. I don't want to deny Cruz a title shot for a belt he never truly lost, especially after he made such easy work of Takeya Mizugaki last September in his comeback from three years worth of injuries. But then again, Raphael Assuncao would be the next best candidate, and he is dealing with his own injury issues right now as well. Without anyone else available that is truly deserving in the foreseeable future, I would say that I'm fine with Cruz getting the shot when he comes back.

Whether or not he wins it... I'm gonna say no on both accounts. Mizugaki isn't a pushover, but he isn't Dillashaw or Barao by any stretch of the imagination, either. And we still haven't seen how Cruz would do over a three-round fight since his injury issues, much less a five-round affair. Unfortunately for him, the injuries have likely robbed him of his physical prime, making it that much harder to envision. I hate saying this last part, but feel it is necessary to point out: If Cruz were to win back the belt, would he be able to stay healthy enough to defend it?


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Normally I would say no in a situation like this, where a guy has one fight in four years, but his track record is so strong it's hard to argue against it. When you look at the guys he's beaten to win and retain the WEC/UFC Bantamweight Championship, it's an impressive list. He also never lost the title. It also helps that there isn't anyone in the division with a stronger case for getting a title shot.

In terms of if he wins, there's no way I can pick him to beat either Dillashaw or Barao. Those guys have been fighting somewhat regularly while Cruz has been rehabbing. I don't think he can just come back and beat either of those guys. It would be damn impressive, but I think it's asking too much.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Yes, I believe he should. First of all, he never actually lost the belt. And second of all, he looked fantastic against a top contender in his last fight. I think he would beat both Barao and Dillashaw. I see Barao winning the rematch against Dillashaw and then Cruz getting the next shot and winning his title back (depending how long he's out with his injury).


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

The only reason against him getting a title shot is his inability to stay healthy and in one piece. Other than that I say let the man fight for the belt that he once held. I can see him defeating either man, but I can also see either of them defeating him which, makes both matchups very intriguing as it's a coin flip type of possibility as to who wins. Cruz showed in his quick destruction of Mizugaki that he's still in his athletic prime in the cage, and I would love to see him capture and defend that belt. He's a superstar in the MMA world, he's just been a superstar frequently sidelined for recent memory.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Dominick Cruz has earned the right more than any other fighter to be given a title bout upon his return, but he didn't need to necessarily earn it; after all, it's his title, he didn't lose the belt, the UFC prised it out of his hands due to long term injuries. Another major factor for Cruz to be given the title shot is the lack of title contenders in the bantamweight division.

As great as I think T.J Dillashaw and Renan Barao are, Cruz is on another level to them both. It doesn't matter which one is in front of him, I fully expect Cruz to come away with the victory, and once again have the UFC bantamweight belt wrapped around his waist.


CASH NORMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

The fact this is a plausible question I think speaks volumes to the state of the men's bantamweight division.

Prior to dispatching of Takeya Mizugaki in September 2014, the last fight Dominick Cruz had was in October 2011 against current Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson. Currently, Johnson is scheduled to defend his belt for the seventh time; meanwhile, Cruz would be possibly fighting for a championship after a one fight victory and a cumulative four year layoff.

Frankly at this point I'd be surprised if he could remain healthy looking enough to make it to the title fight. Honestly, if there was a possibility that Cruz could win, would anyone really want him as a champ? UFC fans already scream and cry about the injuries suffered by Chris Weidman and others which result in fights being pushed back a couple months. The bantamweight division and title was stagnated by Dominick Cruz for two years. I think he needs two fights before he's scheduled to fight for the belt. Cruz needs those preliminary fights to see if he can make it through two training camps without being injured.

As a fan I'd love to see how a match between Cruz and current Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw would play out. However, I feel as if Cruz is a liability, I think he may still be good enough to win but may be too brittle to be the division champion.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

Dominick Cruz returning healthy in 2015 is a big ask with his track record of injuries, so I'll believe it when I actually see him in the Octagon. I would prefer to see him take another warm-up fight like he did so impressively against Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 178. That way Raphael Assuncao can get the next title shot later this year, and Cruz can face the winner in early 2016 if he doesn't get injured yet again.