Dominick Cruz Talks Faber Rivalry, Wants To Coach TUF

Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz

Dominick Cruz doesn’t like Urijah Faber and wants to coach The Ultimate Fighter 14.

The only loss on UFC bantamweight champion Cruz’ record is to Faber in a featherweight title bout. The two have a well-known dislike for each other that began prior to their WEC 26 match up in March of 2007.

“Me and Urijah don’t really get along very much, needless to say,” Cruz told Heavy.com’s Fight Day. “It goes all the way back to the day – The first time we fought was about four years ago I’d say. I fought him at 145-pounds for the world title. I did some stuff that made him angry. He did some stuff after the fight that made me angry.

“It just stuck in my head and just gave me a bad taste in my mouth. I never really just had a good feeling towards him since then. It just makes it that much easier to get in there and punch him in the face.”

UFC president Dana White confirmed to Heavy.com following Faber’s UFC 128 win over Eddie Wineland that Cruz vs. Faber II is happening next.

“Definitely I’d like a shot to get my loss back from Faber and put a beat down on him without a doubt,” commented Cruz.

Tryouts for “The Ultimate Fighter 14” are underway, featuring featherweight and bantamweight fighters. Faber and Cruz want to be the coaches, and it would make sense with the lighter weight classes competing on the show. The coaches have not been selected yet, but Cruz thinks it’s a “possibility” he and Faber will get the jobs.

“I think it’s a real possibility and I welcome it. I’m pumped. I can’t wait. I would love an opportunity like that to represent the weight class of 135-pounds and just let the fans know I’m here and I’m going to be here for a while,” said the bantamweight titleholder.

“I would love to be able to help these guys coming up in the division and just be able to coach and play a part in the upcoming of this division and the guys coming up in it. I think there’s things I can learn from them. I think there’s things they can learn from me, and we can just all help each other in building the division and show the rest of the world that us quick, little guys have something to prove and can go out there and smash people too.”

Cruz thinks the rivalry between he and Faber would make for perfect television.

“I think it will be good on Spike TV just because there is a grudge between me and Urijah, for sure. Who knows how heated it could get on a show, on the set, having to be there all the time, having to see him all the time with his long, frizzy hair,” he said.

“I know that it could bring some heat and I’m sure it would be fun for fans to watch.”