“It’s going to be an interesting match up. I don’t want to give away my insight on either guy, really, but I think it’s going to be an interesting match-up. I think a couple of things could happen. I don’t think it’s going to be a one-sided affair in any way, shape or form. Of course, I haven’t seen T.J. in the last few months, but over the last six and half years or so, I feel like I know enough about him to think he’s going to win. I know Cruz can be elusive. [Cruz]’s maybe one of the best defensive fighters out there, and T.J. is one of the best offensive guys out there, so it’s going to be interesting. [Dominick] will be quick to talk about how he has a win over me, but they just played the fight, I think last night. It was just apparent to me that he’s not that hard to hit. I’ve hit him a number of times and I’ve hit him clean on the chin, put him on his butt, my fist to his chin to his butt on three different occasions during our fight. I think T.J. will be able to do the same. I think he’ll probably finish him. I think he’d probably knock him out.”
-Urijah Faber talks to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about Sunday’s main event between his longtime foe Dominick Cruz and former protege T.J. Dillashaw.
Penick’s Analysis: Faber’s got a lot of knowledge on both of these fighters, and his insight into the fight could be very much on point. This really is one of the best defensive fighters in Cruz against someone in Dillashaw who has showcased a significant ability to hand out punishment. If Dillashaw can catch Cruz the way Faber did back in 2011, multiple times, he’s better equipped at this stage in his career to capitalize. Cruz’s job is to avoid getting caught, and if he’s lost even a half step due to the layoff and continued injury issues, that could prove quite difficult in Boston.
[Urijah Faber art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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