Dominick Cruz striking background...

[FIghtxIQ]

His footwork is basically completely self taught from what I understand .

Self taught but he studied boxing footwork.

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

He's self taught but he's said it before that he studied boxing footwork.

eh, his footwork and off-balance dipping and dodging isn’t even normal by boxing standards. in fact, it’d be even less effective in a boxing ring. regardless, he’s made it work wonderfully in MMA and that’s all that matters.

 

[FIghtxIQ]

More of a strategy than a style. Moving objects are harder to hit. By staying constantly mobile he avoids a good deal of damage. And his awkward rhythm disrupts his opponents.

I’ve never really been a fan. It’s too much of a point fighting style for me to really enjoy it. I appreciate the science. I just don’t find it entertaining. I do like his grappling style though.

It is a style and his movement is only awkward to people that can't figure it out. His footwork has a pattern and so does his entries and set-ups. People just can't figure out the pattern. You need an understanding of footwork and switch hitting/stance switching to understand it, plus understanding of feints. I understand his striking style and footwork. I know his patterns and set ups. It's easy for me to see it because I understand all the stuff associated with his style. Just like I understand Bud Crawford's style as well even though it's completely different than Cruz's and it's just pure boxing. Same with Jaron Ennis. The reason it's hard for people to understand is because 99% don't understand switch hitting. That's why there are very few real switch hitters in mma/boxing. All of them are self taught.

 

[StonedLemur]

Just search William Pep in google.

Only dude in history to win a round without throwing a punch.
One of the best defensive boxers ever.

 

[Sweater of AV]

 

[StonedLemur]

His footwork is basically completely self taught from what I understand .

That and willie pep

 

[FIghtxIQ]

eh, his footwork and off-balance dipping and dodging isn’t even normal by boxing standards. in fact, it’d be even less effective in a boxing ring. regardless, he’s made it work wonderfully in MMA and that’s all that matters.

Not really, slick style boxers use it all the time. Cruz just exaggerates the movements and always switches his footing first before engaging. He has a feint in all his entries and he uses his movement as a feint. He just uses more movement, slick style boxers use when they need to and will be stationary the rest of the time. Cruz's game is built around footwork and never being stationary, so he is constantly moving. He forces the fight to move with his timing and pace unless you know how to break that rythym you will be forced to fight at his pace and timing. That's how he beats most of the people he fights. Footwork and movement isn't something most mma fighters train or are good at, so Cruz has that advantage over most of the people he fights. He just didn't work on his boxing as much as he worked on his footwork. He doesn't have much of a shot selection with his punches, combos, and entries. It's the timing that gets most people though since most can't figure out his timing.

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

Only dude in history to win a round without throwing a punch.
One of the best defensive boxers ever.

this is unfortunately bullshit. all of his fights are on record and this has never been validated.

Not really, slick style boxers use it all the time. Cruz just exaggerates the movements and always switches his footing first before engaging. He has a feint in all his entries and he uses his movement as a feint. He just uses more movement, slick style boxers use when they need to and will be stationary the rest of the time. Cruz's game is built around footwork and never being stationary, so he is constantly moving. He forces the fight to move with his timing and pace unless you know how to break that rythym you will be forced to fight at his pace and timing. That's how he beats most of the people he fights. Footwork and movement isn't something most mma fighters train or are good at, so Cruz has that advantage over most of the people he fights. He just didn't work on his boxing as much as he worked on his footwork. He doesn't have much of a shot selection with his punches, combos, and entries. It's the timing that gets most people though since most can't figure out his timing.

i’ve never seen a slick boxer as off-balance as cruz is. i mean literally not one. mike mccallum, james toney, pernell whitaker, willie pep, floyd mayweather, wilfred benitez, etc. not one of them has ever dipped down sideways like a broken whack-a-mole. balance is incredibly important in a striking battle and that’s precisely why cody was able to let go with combinations. wherever cruz was defensively, he wouldn’t be able to throw something back effectively because he was tipped over.

only guy i’ve ever seen get away with the shit cruz does in a boxing ring and win at a decently high level is prince naseem. and once he was in there with a very good fighter, he got throttled.

 

[ZeeTV]

So funny how this is common knowledge but basically got Kenny Florian banned from the UFC.

it’s painfully obvious to make this comparison, anyone with half a brain could see it

 

[ZeeTV]

Ask Cody Neck tatts. Cody made Cruz look like a clown.

How does Cody look now?

 

[Darragh]

I understand his striking style and footwork. I know his patterns and set ups. It's easy for me to see it because I understand all the stuff associated with his style. Just like I understand Bud Crawford's style as well even though it's completely different than Cruz's and it's just pure boxing. Same with Jaron Ennis.

Sherbroing pretty hard there buddy.

 

[Morax]

So funny how this is common knowledge but basically got Kenny Florian banned from the UFC.

it’s painfully obvious to make this comparison, anyone with half a brain could see it

What?

 

[GeneTunney7]

Sherbroing pretty hard there buddy.

There are actually some sherbros that could school Dom in boxing, like the great two time hw champ Tim witherspoon. Us sherbros are moving up in the world!

 

[PicoPulse]

Off topic but Frankie Edgar used to have so much more movement it was hyperactive and now is more traditional in his approach

 

[Harlekin]

“I started wrestling when I was in seventh grade, and fell in love with it. It never stopped since then. I wrestled at Flowing Wells Jr. High all the way through to my senior year. After my senior year, I started boxing about six months after I graduated and transferred to MMA soon after.”

Other sources say he started boxing in highschool. Maybe the time difference is serious vs amateur training or something

 

[Iroh]

Self taught but he studied boxing footwork.

He studied it himself. It wasn't a coach who taught him, supposedly. We call that self taught. If you teach yourself a language, you don't just make it up out of thin air, you study material where you can find that language

 

[GIBLERTBAPTISTA]

He borrowed Joe Rogan's Willie Pep DVDs and became a world champ.

 

[campbecc]

eh, his footwork and off-balance dipping and dodging isn’t even normal by boxing standards. in fact, it’d be even less effective in a boxing ring. regardless, he’s made it work wonderfully in MMA and that’s all that matters.

Like people have said he copied Willie Pep, not a normal boxer

 

[AJ Garcia]

I love this guys breakdowns of fights.

 

[Khabibs Tiramisu]

Cruz's style looks awkward but was very effective pre-injuries. His body is fucked up and he can't keep the same pace as before. Even in his third fight with butt-chin Faber it's obvious he's slowed down a lot.

What I don't see people mention here is that his technique seems to allow him to set up takedowns really well. Took TJ down a couple of times and also Faber.