"Dominick Cruz is one of the greatest bantamweights in combat sports history," said UFC President & CEO Dana White was quoted as saying in a press released issued in conjunction with Saturday's announcement. "Dominick was an amazing athlete who set the standard for bantamweights, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer."
There's no special work for this particular opponent. We're trying to improve in all aspects to become the best in the world. I can't see any threat in Figueiredo. Of course, he's a very experienced and skillful fighter. But it's all about his right hand and the right leg. He has some understanding of grappling. He is capable of taking you down. Overall, he's a decent fighter, but I can't see any big threat in him.
There's no question about the fact that Merab is a great warrior. He showed with his fights that he is a deserving champion, that he deserves to be where he's at, but I also want to say that with my fights and with my performances I showed that there is no other clear #1 contender,
An early body kick led to an immediate takedown attempt by Nurmagomedov, though Bautista was right back up. Another takedown followed, only for Bautista to go after a nasty-looking toe hold. A lot of rolling and transitions early in the bantamweight fight, though things settled down when Nurmagomedov took the back. He spent the rest of the round there, working, keeping the fight in his wheelhouse.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili looked to defend his title for the third time in 2025 when he took on Cory Sandhagen in the UFC 320 co-main event. Sandhagen had found himself in interim title fights in years past, but was getting the real deal on Saturday, against one of the most dominant 135lb'ers in UFC history. Early on, the champ looked to work his way inside, where he could employ his machine-like wrestling
