WEC 47 Brings Dominick Cruz To The Brink Of A Championship

Dominick Cruz believes that he should not be overlooked at WEC 47.

Cruz exclusively told Bleacher Report that he feels he has the tools needed to dethrone Brian Bowles and begin his own era on March 6.

Cruz (14-1) began his ascension to the top three years ago when he left everything he knew in Tucson, Ariz. for a coach and a place to call a home in San Diego, Calif. at Alliance Training Center.

According to Cruz, he ended up taking a fight in Total Combat about three years ago. Shortly thereafter he was brought out to California on two days notice without any cornermen. Eric Del Fierro, who would become Cruz's MMA coach noticed that.

"I went in, won the fight, and Eric got me scheduled for two more fights close after that as well," said Cruz.

"As I got into those Eric said 'if you need a coach then move out here to San Diego and I’ll coach you, and you can sleep on my floor until you get up on your feet,' so I packed all my crap, I got in my car, drove out there, and moved to San Diego."

Cruz stayed on the floor for a month or two until he saved up enough money to get his own place. Then he met Brandon Vera and Lloyd Irvin and "it’s been one big snowball affect."

With that being said, Cruz believes that he needed the knowledge of a high level coach and top training partners in order to get to the top.

"When I came to Alliance and started working with Eric Del Fierro he was like the missing link, and he’s a great coach. I needed a team and a coach that was at the top level," said Cruz. "I’ve always felt like I have what it takes to be one of the top fighters in the world, it’s just that I needed a team and a coach. I needed people that were at the top level so I could get to the top level myself."

Making the move to Alliance has paid off in huge ways for the title contender as he has ascended to the top level of the sport. With the success around him, he has chosen to live a modest life ensuring that he fully receives the proper training needed to be the champion.

"I kind of live like Rocky when he first started, wake up in the morning have my protein, and I live in my little one bedroom studio and that’s about it," Cruz explained. "I’m definitely going to get myself something nice, so I can live a little nicer."

But all of Cruz's hard work and modest lifestyle have paid off.

"I trained and coached myself for practically my first nine fights. Once I got to the WEC, I needed to go to the next level and that’s what I did. I just kept improving every single fight because of that," said Cruz. "I have a coach to tell me what I’m great at, I have a coach to tell me what I’m bad at, and I have a team to help me get to where I need to be at and it’s worked out very nicely."

Cruz has certainly improved. He is currently 5-0 at Bantamweight, and the Alliance trained fighter is on the brink of becoming a champion.

"It’s a great opportunity. I’ve just been pouring my heart and soul into training for this fight. All the hard work I put in is not going to be in vain. I’ll get to wear all the hard work I put in around my waist, and I’m super excited for it," said Cruz.

In Bowles, Cruz realizes the current champion brings devastating knockout power into the fight. However, he believes he has worked with the appropriate training partners and is pleased thus far with the results.

There are a lot of guys in house to help Cruz train, but they also brought in outside talent like Nick "The Ghost" Gonzalez (and) Danny Martinez. Both of which possess heavy hands and strong wrestling.

Cruz also sparred with other greats like Jeremy Stephens, who has great heavy hands and good takedown defense, Shannon Gugerty, and Ed Ratcliff.

"Alliance has so many guys that are heavy handed which gives me a great look at a Brian Bowles on several different levels," said Cruz. "Wilson Reis is here and he’s great if I can do well against him then I feel I’ll be okay against Brian. I’m extremely pleased with this camp and the people that have helped me through it."

The challenger believes that the key to success may very well be combine all facets of the game together and successfully finding his opponent’s weaknesses.

"In order to be the best in the world you have to be able to mix everything together successfully. You have to be able to mix takedowns in and add some ground and pound, pressure, faints, footwork, head movement," Cruz said.

"If you’re not, your opponents in some way, shape, or form are going to figure you out and take advantage of that weakness. That’s what I’ve done to my opponents, I find out where they’re not comfortable and put them there where they’re in their uncomfortable spot and win the fight. Anyone I fight, I’m confident with, and it all comes down to game plans. That’s how I win all my fights and that’s all I plan on winning this one."