This is Sherdog so you are welcome to imagine 7 title defenses and All Time GOAT status but I will direct you straight to these Sherdog Facts. BW is still called Manlet and therefore doesn't count as 90% of Sherdoggers could destroy all fighters from FW and under with the other 10 % in a coinflip SD. If DJ had won vs Cruz he could have then won the FlyW title being the first to hold 2 UFC belts consecutively and most certainly could have moved up to dethrone Aldo because he is chinny and been a 3 division simultaneous champion.TJ's UFC record 12-3 ;(Most Wins, Stoppages, KO's in UFC BW History)
Notable wins
People forget how much of a monster Barao was and for TJ to wreck him twice is a huge deal and should be an extra feather in the cap for the GOAT Bantamweight talk.
- Cody Garbrandt x2
- Renan Barao x2
- John Lineker
- Raphael Assuncao
Dom's UFC Record 5-1 (7-1 WEC) ;(Most consecutive UFC/WEC BW title defences: 4)
Notable wins
I know that they all weighed 135 when they fought but there sure are a lot of flyweights on Cruz's record.Not to mention The Mighty Mouse that lost to Dom has got nothing to do with Current Mighty Mouse now.And yet Mighty Mouse still outstruck Cruz back in 2011.Cruz dominated the wrestling though.
- Urijah Faber x2
- TJ Dillashaw
- Mighty Mouse
- Joseph Benevidez x2 (WEC)
- Brian Bowles (WEC)
- Scott Jorgensen (WEC)
Worth noting that if the Cruz decision had gone TJ’s way (which was incredibly possible), TJ’s reign could essentially read:
Renan Barao - won the belt (KO)
Joe Soto - first defense (KO)
Renan Barao - second defense (KO)
Dominick Cruz - third defense (Decision)
Raphael Assuncao - fourth defense (Decision)
John Lineker - fifth defense (Decision)
Cody Garbrandt - sixth defense (KO)
Cody Garbrandt - seventh defense (KO)
That’s not just “bantamweight GOAT” status; that’s “all time great” status.
Obviously it’s a hypothetical, but a realistic one. If TJ had gotten the instant rematch against Cruz (which would be a fair instant rematch, in my opinion, for an exciting uber close split decision), his career could read very different if you could count Assuncao and Lineker as legit defenses.
What the fuck? Cody didn't even deserve a title shot in the FIRST PLACE.When he got title shot against Dom his best win was Takeya Mizugaki.He beat Cruz tho.After that he got KO'd in his first title defense.He didn't deserve his first title shot let alone his second one.TJ was right to want to not give a rematch.Well,eventually he did and beat him.TJ is a good fighter but he is very unlikeable since he instantly starts ducking when he has the belt. .
TJ is already at an optimum weight class where he fights guys his size and doesn't need to drop insane amounts of weight.If TJ moved up, he would be at an incredible size disadvantage. He wouldn't still be bigger like Conor.Not to mention Max is a featherweight that should be in lightweight.Also you are wrong.TJ wanted to fight Jose Aldo once.It's not like he is ducking from a challenge like you are making out.Not once did he ask to go up after Aldo or Max.
How is he ducking Cruz? Please explain? What did Dom do to deserve a title shot? He lost his last fight and hasn't even fought for two years and recently pulled out of a fight.Dom didn't give TJ a rematch after a close fight.Why would TJ?he starts ducking Cruz. He is hoping Cruz never fights him and its funny because he should want to beat him to prove he is the GOAT at 135. If Cruz hurt his knee or something else and never fights again there will always be the argument that Cruz was better especially since he won head to head and was simply unlucky with injuries. Fight Cruz now while you can or forever be 2nd place.
You said Cruz as more time on being #1 BW in the world than most.Stop trying to change the subject.Idiot.Also i know the period.TJ won the belt in may 2014 was supposed to defend his title in august 2014 and Barao pulled out and Soto stepped in.The fact that TJ agreed to defend his title on such a short notice showed how great champ he was.then he was supposed to defend his title in april 2015 but TJ broke his rib.And defened his title on july 25 2015 against Barao and lost to title to Dom on jan 18 2016
About Dominick he was inactive for 3 years once, and over 1 year another time.. He dominated the weight class for like 4 years IF you include from his BW debut to the time he lost the title, and remove the years of inactivity. And in that time he stacked his record with a bunch of bloated flyweights. I think he is probably still the bantamweight GOAT at least for old school fans, but to say there is no doubt is totally ridiculous.
Faber was a shell of himself the second and thir time, and beating a green and undersized DJ isn’t as impressive as Barão or Cody TWICE.
It's pretty fair to me.
Nothing was subjective from what i wrote except i believe TJ is ahead of Cruz from that long writing.Dummy.Stop with your subjective crap and give me FACTS.
Now that's idiotic assumption.That Dom is the longest reining.Prove it instead of spitting bullshit.Stop with your subjective crap and give me FACTS.
For how long exactly Cruz has been #1, undisputed champ?
For how long has TJ been?
Here comes another idiotic assumption - that Faber was shell of himself. Whenever it suits your argument, of course.
FACTS are: Cruz is the longest reigning, the most defending BW champ in the history of the sport.
Tj based his style off cruz, its no secret.its the reason he came out and said that because cruz brings the same tools to the fight as he did.
Cruz wins based off footwork and cardio alone, barao would of gassed by the end of the 2nd.
Nothing was subjective from what i wrote except i believe TJ is ahead of Cruz from that long writing.Dummy.
Now that's idiotic assumption.That Dom is the longest reining.Prove it instead of spitting bullshit.
Translation:I don't have any proof at all but imma say Dom is the longest reigning #1 BW in the world because i can't stand being wrong.Dominick Cruz being the longest reigning #1 BW in the world is a FACT.
No need to prove FACTS. FACTS are public, open to the basic knowledge.
I'm not your father (or maybe I am, ask your mother what your father's name is) so I'm not going to teach you how to find the information.
So in conclusion: Dominick Cruz, the logest reigning #1 BW in the world, with the most title defenses , is undisputed Greatest Bantamweight Of All Time.
Educated guesses is one of the greatest aspects in the fight game, a conversation thats been had by many men over the centuries.The Barao asumption is exactly that. An asumption. There are many factors speaking against your thesis but as it only can be hypothetical there is no sense in discussing it.
TJ did not base his style after Cruz at all. Thats like saying Floyd and Manny have the same style because they are quick on their feet. TJs whole movement is different in any basic skill be it stepping, punching, kicking.
I hope no one ever does copy Cruz style as you cant generate any power like that and will be dependant on running and scoring points by touch up.
Translation:I don't have any proof at all but imma say Dom is the longest reigning #1 BW in the world because i can't stand being wrong.
That's what i thought.Stop wasting my time.
I get that you’re just rustling jimmies, and I am not on the side of TJ being BW GOAT at this point, but man....Cruz will destroy TJ again.