Dominick Cruz retains his WEC Bantamweight Title with a Split Decision victory over Joseph Benavidez
Posted on August 18, 2010, 11:26 PM by Anton GurevichWEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has successfully defended his throne, with a Split Decision victory over the stubborn Joseph Benavidez, at the main event of WEC 50 at the Palms Casino, Las Vegas. Benavidez went guns blazing against Cruz, unleashing a powerful striking combos and leg kicks during the 25 minutes of the entertaining 135-pound battle.But Dominick Cruz responded with a firepower of his own, what resulted in a very entertaining WEC Bantamweight Title fight.
Benavidez came with a clear gameplan of counter-striking, nullifying Dominick Cruz' valuable three-inch reach advantage. Benavidez' timing was slightly better than Cruz' in the first three rounds, but it was the Champion who proved his worth by adjusting his game in the final 10 minutes. Cruz dominated Benavidez with well-executed takedowns, continued by a dominance on the ground. Cruz' takedowns later proved themselves as a deciding factor in a Decision victory over Benavidez.
Dominick Cruz showed he's a well-rounded fighter, who deserves his title as the WEC Bantamweight Champion. "The Dominator" remains to be the only man to beat Joseph Benavidez in his career, as well as the first WEC Bantamweight Champion to defend his crown after Miguel Torres' defeat against Brian Bowles. Scott Jorgensen could be next for Dominick Cruz, after collecting his 5th consecutive victory, this time against the "One Punch" Brad Pickett.
The fight between Dominick Cruz and Joseph Benavidez was more than a worthy ending to the entertaining WEC 50. World Extreme Cagefighting will return to action on September 30th, with a stacked WEC 51: Aldo vs Gamburyan fight card.
Comments
what a war! now this fight was close!
the first was all Dominick! this time Joseph look like a dwarf from hell!
but Dominick show his well rounded! he should have been a lil more aggressive but still he did good.
Dominick Cruz has some of the best striking I have seen. I was pretty sure he would win this fight. I am pretty sure it was a unanamous decision though as all 3 judges scored it a win for Cruz. I thought it was a great war but to me Cruz seemed to have all 3 rounds as his striking was connecting better and dropping Benevidez a few times as well as he was able to score takedowns and the 3rd was all his. I think he will find trouble with Faber though.
oops I guess I only saw 3 rounds of 5 lol. anyway the last 3 rounds were Cruz. I hear that Benevidez did better in the first 2 rounds.
I verbally weak whoever weaks me.
you have been weaked verbally
Nice fight. Was hoping Benavidez would pull it out at the end. Seems like Cruz was just to quick & long for him. Benavidez was counter striking him & then Cruz would take him down.
there was no way that was a split decision. Cruz' last minute takedown are what won him those close rounds. I saw it being a 48-47 unanimous win for Cruz
idk what fight everybody was watching but cruz did not impress me. he won no doubt but he was very tentative and weak with his strikes IMO
Lets see you go in there and try to hit those quick little bastards...it's not as easy as you like to think it is plus they have power so why is the champion going to get over aggressive and get caught? He's the champion he should'nt have to bring it but he did and did it well...not tentative just smart
boring fight
You obviously must be new to MMA or a moron
Very good very close fight but in the end Cruz won all 5 rounds on my score card. Was kind of crazy that it was a split decision thou, in my opinion that was just 1 biased judge and not really that close in the end.
What was really telling in this fight was how superior a wrestler Cruz was but he also controlled the cage and landed far more strikes and kicks. If you are going to only load up for power shots like Benavidez did you better knock the guy out or at least hurt him because you won't win a decision.
I didn't think it was a split decision but I could see why they did that. A slightly biased judge and the crowd playing into it probly had an affect. I always say when it's that close you have to give it to the champ. The first Machida Shogun fight Shogun maybe did enough. But that being said, if he didn't do enough, then Frankie Edgar didn't do enough. And Benavidez didn't do enough. You gotta take it from him. Even if Penn didn't outscore Frankie with his power shots he didn't really lose the belt in my opinion. Or shouldn't have. Good thing we get a rematch. Can't wait to see Faber and Cruz again.