\u201cDominator\u201d is a first ballot Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n
During the UFC 324 broadcast last night<\/a> (Sat., Jan. 24, 2025), the promotion announced that former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will be going into the Hall of Fame (HOF) later this year during International Fight Week.<\/p>\n Check out the package that the promotion put together.<\/p>\n Cruz (24-4) is largely considered the greatest Bantamweight of all time \u2014 and that\u2019s even with him being extremely cursed with injuries that derailed a lot of his career and most of his prime.<\/p>\n \u201cDominator\u201d began his MMA career in 2005, fighting for Rage in the Cage in Arizona. After going undefeated (9-0), he signed with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and immediately challenged for the promotion\u2019s Featherweight championship.<\/p>\n Cruz lost his WEC debut, getting submitted by his future long-time rival<\/a>, Urijah Faber, but he dropped down to Bantamweight and eventually claimed WEC\u2019s Bantamweight belt.<\/p>\n Cruz eventually dropped the 135-pound belt to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207<\/a> via unanimous decision, thanks to \u201cNo Love\u201d having the performance of a lifetime.<\/p>\n Cruz\u2019s legacy as the first Bantamweight champion and his unique fight style are cemented<\/a> forever, and he absolutely deserves his spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Here are some of his stats per a UFC press release.<\/p>\n Expect more Hall of Fame announcements in the coming months.<\/p>\n