Media Dominick Cruz Footwork Appreciation Thread

[Kaiokenrye24]

He still beat your fav fighter

Not taking any thing away from that fight but he hasn't looked good since

 

[Kwic]

 

[Dylan Heinitz]

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.

Cody has other reasons for being emotional against TJ. Thats why he lost. Cody picked Cruz apart and would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Pointfighter. GTFO.

 

[Readybodisready]

The most amazing thing is Cruz has disproportionately short legs, so this is supposed to be the worst style for him to use in general. Black people have the longest limbs proportionatelly out of all races which is mainly why they're so good at running, jumping, moving athletically etc. and they rule fancy footwork based styles in combat sports.

Although it worked for Cruz despite this which is amazing, I have no doubt that his shorter legs had to compensate for this and he ended up overusing his joints, it's the reason his career was ruined. It was not the right style for his body type.

I expect to hear crybaby responses to this post but it's a fact that fighters are given fighting styles by trainers based on their natural attributes.

 

[Franklin U.]

Please- Dom evolved to be top tier fighter in weight class but he lost to [t.j] imo as he was gifted title as challenger no less and was pretty much clowned by Cody.
My "appreciation" advice is to call ABC and pen a stint with "dancing with the stars". He should fair well

 

[chick magnet punk]

Undisputed bantamweight goat.

 

[LEGS MAHONEY]

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.

How was cruz's cardio still so on point in the cody fight if he could barely walk through out his camp?

 

[ArtemV]

Let us all appreciate his shitty boxing technique too

 

[Airdack]

Just that simple. Cruz has said he memorizes 7-8 footwork patterns that he repeatedly uses in fights. Let's isolate and appreciate them!

I feel like this is his favorite. Step in forward left with right foot, step out back left with left foot:

(More below and on page 2)

WEC/Pre injury Cruz was the greatest BW to ever be in that cage. He was so fucking fast and slick his body couldn't cope with the raw inputs from his brain and broke down at an early age. He use to blitz forward and end his combos with vicious kicks. I don't think Dom's thrown a single kick in his last two fights. His knees are shot and he still has good movement.

1 fight in 4 years and shell of his former self Dom comes out and and edges out TJ for the belt. TJ who looked like an unstoppable striking savant before that fight.

The biggest what if in BW history. Imagine if Cruz never had those long layoffs and stayed relatively injury free.

 

[kimocomplex]

hey good stuff

noticed most of the gif's are of Dom missing on his strikes. Would love to see ones where he lands, also the ones that end with the beautiful knee tap takedowns but I guess that would be a different topic

 

[cevo]

Great thread idea and this is an honest question: Can someone please enlighten me on why this is not at risk of running into a straight right from the opponent?

On the first 2 gifs he keeps his head off the center, avoiding the straight right. On the third gif I don't know wtf he's doing.

 

[grihenrumet]

His footwork was effective but not efficient . Looks Herky jerky and awkward and it’s partially why he’s got knees that are ready to fall off .

If only he some how developed a style like Tyson Fury he has a very herky jerky stlye but uses his upperbody so not alot of stress on the knees