Dominick Cruz lost the UFC Bantamweight Title to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207, a fight he lost by unanimous decision.
According to famed striking coach and UFC veteran Duane Ludwig, the former champion looked off at UFC 207.
"Cody looked really good in his last fight, but I will say this: Cruz did not look good. Cruz looked off,” Ludwig said on the 5ive Rounds podcast. “I think he took the high road and said he was healthy, but he did not look like the same Cruz at all. Cruz's footwork wasn't there. Mentally and physically, he didn't look the same. I can't say for sure he had an injury, but he wasn't feinting and pumping like he typically does to pull guys in."
The loss was the first one for Cruz since his days in the World Extreme Cgaefighting (WEC) promotion, that loss came to the now retired Urijah Faber. Ludwig, while feeling that Cruz was off that night, also believes that Garbrandt fought a great fight that night.
"It was a combination of Cody having a really good night and Cruz having an off night. That's what happened in my very expert opinion,” Ludwig said. “I've been in this game a long time. This is what I do. I've dedicated my life to martial arts. In my professional, expert opinion, Cruz looked off."
Garbrandt is currently filming the UFC Ultimate Fighter 25, while Cruz hasn’t competed since that aforementioned loss to Garbrandt.
