It has now been over a month now since Dominick Cruz lost the UFC Bantamweight Title to Cody Garbarndt by decision at UFC 207. Raphael Assuncao, who defeated Aljamain Sterling at UFC On Fox 23 by decision, wants a bout with the former bantamweight champion.
“I think Dominick Cruz would make a lot of sense right now,” Assuncao said on the UFC on Fox . “He’s right there up at the top of the rankings. I don’t see any other guy.”
The former champion Cruz has some other plans before fighting Assuncao.
“It’s not a question of if I’ll fight him,” Cruz said. “I fight the best in the world. I’m ready to fight for the belt. That’s what I’m in line for. That’s who I’m here to fight – the best. That would be the next guy who thinks they’re the champion, and I can take the belt from him. That’s not Assuncao, and I’m not the guy for him. … I’m fighting for the title when I come back, and that’s the end of it.”
Assuncao has only earned a single victory in the last two-plus years, over Aljamain Sterling, but he has been inactive due to injuries.
