Top UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Vera claims Dominick Cruz is turning down fights. Vera, a two-time champion at bantamweight, says Vera is wrong.
“I am open to him fighting, yes, but from what I hear now, it’s – funny that he talks all this rubbish about me, but I don’t pay much attention when calling him out,” Cruz stated recently on The MMA Hour .. I’m sorry people call me that. It doesn’t bother me. Like I said, I focus on dates. I won’t fight if he asks. I say no to dates. Because you will have to fight everyone to reach [a] championship .”
, opponents don’t matter.
Vera stated that Cruz refused to fight him multiple times, citing his ranking on The MMA Hour ,. He relished his current position above Cruz in the UFC’s top-15 and added a message for the ex-champ: “If you want it, come get it.”
As fired up as Vera seems to be, Cruz can’t be bothered. He will choose any opponent who is higher than him as his opponent. That list includes champ Aljamain Sterling, ex-champ Petr Yan, and Merab Dvalishvili, among others. He said that Vera is not in any way personal.
“So if he thinks I said no, I said no to dates,” Cruz said. “OK. He’s talking to his manager. His manager will tell him what he believes. I’m not opposed to that.
” What’s really funny? He said he wanted someone in the top five or four, but why would he want those [opponents with those rankings] if that didn’t matter. If moving up the ladder didn’t matter, then why would you ask for somebody above you, not underneath you in the division, like he’s done. It’s because we all fight in the same bracket for the title of champion. So yeah, I’m not opposed to it. I’m ranked higher than him now. I’m certain. So, let’s find the .”
date.
Cruz hopes to return to the octagon at a UFC pay-per-view event. Given the current schedule, an August or September date is most likely. He is currently waiting for the UFC’s word on who will be next.
Cruz stated that he will only listen to the month, day and opponent when they call.
