What’s the old saying? “MMA is 90% mental and the other half is physical.” Okay, maybe that was Yogi Berra talking about baseball and not MMA, but the figures seem to translate pretty well.
Either way, it’s that kind of math that seems to have UFC bantamweight Dominick Cruz feeling like he’s got a pretty good shot at the current featherweight champion, Conor McGregor, even if the two of them had to fight at lightweight. Cruz recently appeared on the Fox Sports post-fight show following UFC 204, where he responded to a fan question about a possible McGregor fight (transcript via MMAMania):
"Look everyone's calling out Conor McGregor,” Cruz explained, “and I don't want to be another guy because everybody wants that fight. But, the thing is, McGregor is picking his own fights. So that's not up to me, it's not up to UFC, it's up to McGregor. Now I know as much as McGregor, and more, about this sport than anybody and it seems that the only way to beat McGregor is with your mind. I know I can do that and I know that I can also technically beat him. And I know that at 145 pounds I am extremely fast and hard to deal with. I can beat McGregor, absolutely. And I would love to fight him at 145 pounds or 155 pounds if he wins the title. I don't care, I'm the champion and my style is built for moving up in weight classes because I don't take damage."
As Cruz suggested, it’s kinda hard to call out a guy who tends to get to call his own shots. Nonetheless, those are pretty - and not unexpectedly - bold words from the bantamweight champion. Currently, Cruz has not been scheduled for the next defense of his 135lb title, but he’s got no shortage of challengers, with T.J. Dillashaw, John Lineker, and Cody Garbrandt all looking for their chance at gold. Still, it’s hard not to wonder just how well Cruz’s style would translate up a division or two.