Despite injured right hand, expect Dominick Cruz to defend title in August

By Brett Okamoto

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 | 9:32 p.m.

Dominick Cruz is the best 135-pound mixed martial artist in the world. He's been fighting professionally for more than five years, holds a record of 15-1 and specifically built his style in a way he thought would entertain fans.

But despite all that, Cruz says you really don't know a thing about him, do you?

"I don't think fans understand anything about me. I don't think they know that much about me," Cruz said. "Every single fight I've been in, I've been an underdog because fans don't know who I am or what I'm capable of.

"I definitely wonder about that on a regular basis. I would love for fans to say, 'Yeah, Dominick Cruz is around and he's going to stay there. He's dangerous.' But who knows what the fans think of me."

Largely overlooked to this point, Cruz has seen his reputation in the MMA community begin to rise ever since he claimed the WEC bantamweight title in a TKO win over Brian Bowles in March.

It's something Cruz has worked hard and waited for — and something he's not about to let slip away.

"In this sport, you only have so long to show people who you are and what you can do," Cruz said. "I plan on making the best of that."

Which is why the 24-year-old is in the process of starting a 10-week training camp in anticipation of returning to the cage this summer, rather than undergoing surgery.

In the second round of his fight against Bowles, Cruz suffered an injury to the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist while throwing a punch.

Initially, doctors told Cruz he could avoid surgery as long as he wore a cast on the area for about two months. However, when three months went by and the injury hadn't healed itself, Cruz was informed he needed to undergo a procedure that would sideline him for at least six months.

After weighing his options, Cruz came back to the doctors with a simple response: No thanks.

"A six-month layoff isn't an option for me at this point," Cruz said. "At first they told me I didn't need surgery, then three months later they told me maybe I do need surgery. I was like, 'Man, if I had known that, I would have got the surgery the day after my fight.'

"I just got the title. I want a chance to defend it, and I've already been out for three months. If I got the surgery, that would make a total of nine months off. Every day you take off from training catches up with you, and I don't want that."

With cortisone shots to numb the pain and a coaching strategy that will avoid furthering his injury, Cruz is praying he can get through training camp and be ready to defend his title on the WEC 50 card in August.

Although the organization has yet to make an official announcement, WEC 50 is expected to take place Aug. 18 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.

Since it's unofficial, Cruz wouldn't go so far as to confirm his participation on the card, but hinted it's likely he'll make an appearance.

"I'm ready. I'm already training," Cruz said. "I can't really disclose that information because it's not posted. But that's what I'm hoping for, I'll say that."

For his first title defense, Cruz likely will see a familiar face in top contender Joseph Benavidez (12-1). Cruz defeated Benavidez by unanimous decision at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel in August.

Benavidez is just one of a long list of challengers looking to knock off Cruz. Waiting in line behind him are Bowles and Scott Jorgensen. The loaded division also includes Miguel Torres, who should prove to be a hungry fighter coming off back-to-back losses.

Cruz says he's open to fighting any challenger in the division and will let the WEC sort out what order they come in.

"I don't have a preference," Cruz said. "Everybody in my division is a savage. They all deserve a shot. Who am I to say 'so and so' doesn't deserve a shot? I know (Bowles) is pretty bitter at me because he thinks it's unfair I won the title due to his injury.

"Whatever, man, line em up. I'll fight Brian. I'll fight Benavidez. I'll fight Jorgensen. Line em up."

If Cruz is able to hang on to the bantamweight title, he potentially could receive an opportunity to avenge the only loss of his career.

Urijah Faber, who submitted Cruz in the first round of their March 2007 fight, appears to be on his way to bantamweight after losing a lopsided decision to Jose Aldo for the featherweight title in April.

In addition to being responsible for the only loss on Cruz's record, Faber openly has expressed a personal dislike of him in the past. Although Cruz says he's focused only on what lies ahead of him in August, avenging his only loss obviously is an opportunity that interests him.

"I don't like him, either," Cruz said. "I don't hate him, I just dislike the way he carries himself. That's mostly out of the fact we both believe we're champions. When two people believe they're champions, why are they going to like each other?

"I would love to avenge my loss. It's my only loss, and it would almost be like I'm undefeated again if I beat him. It's something I'd love to do in the future, but right now my focus is on whoever is next in line, and I don't believe Urijah is next in line."

It's a smart approach by Cruz not to look ahead, especially because he'll go into his first title defense with just one good hand.

It's a gamble Cruz is willing to take to capitalize on what he sees as his biggest opportunity to date to seize the spotlight.

In 2008, he refused to pull out of a fight against Charlie Valencia despite tearing his left MCL just two weeks before the event. He ended up scoring a unanimous decision win that kicked off his current five-fight win streak.

If Cruz repeats his history of taking and winning fights while injured, it's a good bet he'll earn the respect and admiration of fans he's been looking for.

"If you're going to be the best for a long time you have to figure out a way to work around injuries," Cruz said. "Everyone goes into fights with something hurt so I'm not going to complain about it.

"The only thing I can do is continue to fight and put on a good show. I don't lay on people and I'm always working — that's so that I can give the fans a good show. I would hope that one of these days they'll respect and learn that about me."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected].