White: Cruz Beating Cejudo ‘Up There With Serra Vs St-Pierre’

Photo by Ray Tamarra/GC Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo, has yet to make a single title defense since finishing Marlos Moraes to capture the vacant crown at UFC 238 back in June 2018, but he’s already such a dominant champion that Dominick Cruz is expected to be crushed in the opening minutes of the UFC 249 co-main event.

That’s according to promotion president Dana White.

Sure, Cruz is 13-1 over the last 12 years and holds victories over some of the biggest names in the sport, but White argues that “The Dominator” is coming off a three-year injury timeout and may no longer have the chops to get it done on fight night.

“I think it’s the biggest upset ever,” White told BT Sport (transcribed by Adam Martin). “Say what you want about Henry Cejudo, (if) you don’t like his personality, the guy is unbelievable and he’s looked incredible in his last several outings. He is the man right now (in) two different weight classes. Dominick Cruz is the unluckiest fighter of all time. I mean the injuries that this guy’s had. If he can pull this off, it’s one of the biggest upsets. I’d put it right up there with Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre.”

Cruz is a +175 underdog with Bovada, which sounds about right when you consider his extended absence, as well as the fact that his last bout inside the Octagon was a clearcut decision loss to Cody Garbrandt.

That said, Serra closed at +850 for his UFC 69 “Shootout” against St-Pierre, who was as high as -1300 on most sports books. “The Terror” scored a bookie-busting knockout early in the first round but went on to get crushed in their UFC 83 rematch.

Not sure I would put Cejudo-Cruz anywhere near that upset but hey, that’s just me.