Media Dominick Cruz Footwork Appreciation Thread

[elwani]

His style has advantages, but TJ took what works and added to it making a better style.

And yet he still got beat by the original.

 

[Fossor]

Ah, then I would definitely disagree. Cruz is almost always punching such that the power of his punches is helped by the momentum of his movement, not hindered by it. I'm too lazy to make GIFs just to illustrate this (some of the GIFs above already do), but let's consider some of Cruz's favorite punches.

One of his favorite punches is the left hook while weaving right. This is definitely helped by the momentum as he is punching right while his body is moving right. Similarly, another favorite punch is right hook while weaving left, for the same reason.

Another of his favorite punches is duck right then right uppercut while straightening. By ducking right, he's loading his right leg to push up, so he's dodging, but again his motion is perfect for adding power to his punch.

Another of his favorite punches is throwing a right while shifting backwards from orthodox to southpaw by moving his left foot back. Again his body is turning left, perfect for his right hook also moving left. Here's a GIF.

Com'on, do you really think someone who's thought so much about fighting like Cruz would really punch against his movement?

Last of all you say TJ, Cody, and Moraes. TJ copied Cruz's style. Cody got beat easily twice by someone who copied Cruz's style. And Moraes has yet to even challenge for the title.

He is clunky, if he was driving the momentum he would have much more effect with his punches.
"TJ copied Cruz's style" - this is a joke Cruz made, don't take it seriously, there were fighters that move around before him. Cruz couldn't beat Cody and was clowned for 5 rounds.

 

[suizuri]

You are ducking your head to the extreme left of your opponent to the far outside of their right hand. If they threw a straight right, it would go past the right side of your head.

Another reason why it is hard for them to hit you with the right is that your head is moving into their right so that it very close to their right hand until it sails past it. This smothers their right hand and does not give them room to punch.

In my experience at least, it is true that if you do not duck far enough to your left and do not move into them, almost anyone's reaction is to hit you with the right, and they will succeed.

Thanks much. I love it when people are astute enough to break this stuff down. That being said, would a right hook instead of a right straight from an opponent be more effective against it?

 

[elwani]

Thanks much. I love it when people are astute enough to break this stuff down. That being said, would a right hook instead of a right straight from an opponent be more effective against it?

Again I can only speak from experience but no. The opponent would have to throw a wide right hook because your head is too far to his right already, but a wide right hook takes way too long to throw to catch you in this movement. Also smothering principle continues to hold.

 

[HIMBOB]

And yet he still got beat by the original.

*Out pointed by the original.

 

[elwani]

He is clunky, if he was driving the momentum he would have much more effect with his punches.
"TJ copied Cruz's style" - this is a joke Cruz made, don't take it seriously, there were fighters that move around before him. Cruz couldn't beat Cody and was clowned for 5 rounds.

Nah, I gave you a bunch of examples, give me some counterexamples instead of just repeating what you believe more emphatically.

I think TJ himself even said he changed his style after imitating Cruz at TAM for others, at least I'm pretty sure he has never even denied it.

Again these were Cruz's feet during the Cody match:



Plantar fasciitis, it's an ailment where you literally cannot walk on your feet because it is too painful. I remember Cruz saying he has to crawl to the bathroom every morning because it's too painful for him to walk.

 

[elwani]

And yet he still got beat by the original.

*Out pointed by the original.

And therefore beat.

 

[Fossor]

Nah, I gave you a bunch of examples, give me some counterexamples instead of just repeating what you believe more emphatically.

I think TJ himself even said he changed his style after imitating Cruz at TAM for others, at least I'm pretty sure he has never even denied it.

Again these were Cruz's feet during the Cody match:

View attachment 491729

Plantar fasciitis, it's an ailment where you literally cannot walk on your feet because it is too painful. I remember Cruz saying he has to crawl to the bathroom every morning because it's too painful for him to walk.

Watch this kick, he bends towards his leg, no wonder he has all those injuries

 

[Cpt Migraine]

He's an elite fighter with a very high chance of winning any fight.. with that said i wouldn't feel any safer with him with me..

He's like the first pick in the bizarro version of the old theoretical "which fighter would you want to have your back in a bar fight"..

Dom
Theodorou
Fitch

Some people even made the argument he won the garbrandt fight.. sure, necktats is annoying but how much must you hate mma to see that fight for dom..

well.. great footwork! Appreciate it.. he outmanuevers almost anyone and actually has a recent "win" over tj.. i even think there is a method to his pillow fists.. the opponents are getting outpointed but never really hurt so there is no urgency to actually change the way the fight is going.. "i'm getting touched more than i touch him but i'm not in danger"..

he's making it a point fight and no one is a better point fighter than cruz.. i have the tj and garbrandt fights on my most watched fights-list and i do respect the skill but i was fucking ecstatic when garbrandt played with him.. one of the best fighters ever and no aggression.. :/

 

[Fossor]

His hands are straight to increase the reach (and injuries), but his feet and body kinda separated form his shoulders and don't help.

 

[dawzz]

His fight against Faber wasn't that impressive. TJ, Cody, Marlon, and maybe Assuncao would have finished Faber inside 1-2 rounds like Barao did

He still beat your fav fighter

 

[Deleted member 347815]

His footwork and head movement look a lot better to non-trained fans than fans with combat experience imo.

Was never impressed with his off balanced feet crossing and arm punches.

 

[elwani]

His footwork and head movement look a lot better to non-trained fans than fans with combat experience imo.

I don't know about that, but I do know that people who can't make any arguments to support their points usually resort to trying to put the other side down in order to make their point.

 

[Deleted member 347815]

I don't know about that, but I do know that people who don't have the ability to argue their points usually resort to insulting the other side in order to make their point.

I'm not sure where I'm insulting "the other side". Please try to provoke someone else, it's quite early and I'm a bit toasty.

 

[elwani]

His footwork and head movement look a lot better to non-trained fans than fans with combat experience imo.

Was never impressed with his off balanced feet crossing and arm punches.

I'm not sure where I'm insulting "the other side". Please try to provoke someone else, it's quite early and I'm a bit toasty.

Not everyone who points out your poor choice of words to you is trying to provoke you, they may actually be trying to do you a favor.

Anyway, here's Lou DiBella talking about how impressed he was with Cruz and Dillashaw. But you know, by your standards, what the fuck does Lou DiBella know about fighting?

 

[Fahcough]

Are we posting gifs on how to never land a punch? Scrolling down, it looks this way

 

[elwani]

Are we posting gifs on how to never land a punch? Scrolling down, it looks this way

No, I'm pretty sure I'm posting about footwork and not about landing or not landing punches.

Are we shit posting without reading the title? It looks that way.

 

[Ruthfella]

Seems drunk to me

 

[Gmork]

Great footwork but he’s always stepping away from his arm only punches. It looks like he’s more focused on not getting hit while throwing than he is about landing them.
Im not trying to hate on him I enjoy his fights but he’s figured out the scoring system. That’s pretty much it. Kind of like Bisping for the early part of his career only Dom gets away with it because there’s fewer power hitters with decent speed at 135.

Defense comes before offense in striking sports. Great offensive fighters are a dime a dozen. Great defensive fighters are champions.

 

[Deleted member 347815]

Not everyone who points out your poor choice of words to you is trying to provoke you, they may actually be trying to do you a favor.

Anyway, here's Lou DiBella talking about how impressed he was with Cruz and Dillashaw. But you know, by your standards, what the fuck does Lou DiBella know about fighting?

You related to Dom by any chance? You're coming off quite sensitive and defensive.

I merely pointed out that he throws arm punches (you can visibly see them) and is constantly crossing his feet and off balance. I'm sorry that hurt your feelings, you can find 10 more videos of people praising him, I really don't care.

That "imo" part in my original post means "in my opinion". You don't get to tell me what my own opinions are or if they're right or wrong so stop quoting me. I actually respected this thread content and just disagreed.

Jesus people.