TPWW Forums - Faber v Cruz @ UFC 132

Quote:

The long-awaited rematch and title fight between UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (17-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and ex-titleholder Urijah Faber (25-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is set for UFC 132.

UFC officials today announced the bout.

With the July booking, the two 135-pounders now appear unlikely to coach against each other on "The Ultimate Fighter 14," which begins production this summer.

UFC 132 takes place July 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, the and the night's main card airs live on pay-per-view. Cruz vs. Faber is likely to take a headlining or co-headlining slot.

Cruz and Faber first fought three years ago at WEC 26. Then-featherweight champ Faber submitted Cruz in just 98 seconds. It remains the only loss of Cruz's career.

Since the defeat, Cruz has won eight consecutive fights, including an early-2010 victory over then-champ Brian Bowles. He went on to defend the title with a split-decision victory over Joseph Benavidez and a unanimous-decision win over Scott Jorgensen. When the WEC merged with the UFC in late 2010, officials announced that Cruz would become the UFC's first-ever bantamweight champ.

Faber, meanwhile, recently made his UFC debut with a unanimous-decision victory over Eddie Wineland at UFC 128. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported that night, UFC president Dana White said the victory had earned Faber an immediate title shot and was a candidate to coach on "TUF 14," a season of the Spike TV reality series that debuts in September. (It features bantamweight and featherweight fighters for the first time ever.)

Faber, the former king of the WEC and longtime titleholder, now owns two consecutive victories since he lost a title fight to new champ Jose Aldo at WEC 48. After opting to drop to 135 pounds and rebounding with a submission victory over Takeya Mizugaki, he met Wineland in UFC 128's co-headliner.

Cruz and Faber, who are both based in California, have built something of a rivalry in recent months. Faber said Cruz began the verbal sparring. And after his win over Wineland, he issued a warning of his own.

"Hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your UFC belt," he joked.

Faber said it was all in good fun.

"I was just trying to add some humor," Faber said. "I like messing with Dominick. Like I said before, I feel like he chose me as an enemy, and I gladly accepted. I'm just messing around with him and letting him know I'm getting his belt."

Means they wont be coaches on teh next season of TUF...